§ Lord Pattenasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Blackstone on 11 October (WA20), whether, in the light of the Department for Education and Employment's expectation that schools and their governing bodies fulfil their statutory requirement in providing collective worship, they will introduce sanctions upon those that fail to do so. [HL4189]
§ The Minister of State, Department for Education and Employment (Baroness Blackstone)There are arrangements in place through local standing advisory committees on religious education to assist those schools which have difficulties in meeting their statutory requirements in relation to collective worship. We believe this is the best way to ensure that schools meet their obligations.