§ Jonathan ShawTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions she has had with Ministers in the Home Office on the proposals to remove refugee children from the application of sections 13 and 14 of the Education Act 1996; and if she will make a statement. [52102]
§ Mr. Ivan LewisThe proposal to remove children from the application of sections 13 and 14 of the Education Act 1996 applies only to the children of asylum seekers who will be educated in-house in accommodation centres. All other children, including refugees, will continue to be educated in schools maintained by local education authorities. This proposal has been prepared in close consultation with the Home Office.
§ Mr. WoodwardTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether accommodation centres which provide education for asylum seekers will have a statutory obligation to have an anti-bullying policy. [51662]
§ Mr. Ivan Lewis[holding answer 23 April 2002]: There will not be a statutory obligation for accommodation centres which provide education for asylum seekers to have an anti-bullying policy. Matters such as anti-bullying and the discipline of the children attending the education provision in the accommodation centres may be provided in the agreement between the Home Secretary and the contractor. However, the education that will be provided for these children will mirror what they would get in schools.