HC Deb 21 June 2004 vol 422 cc1212-3W
Mr. Simmonds

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the closure of the Standards and Effectiveness Unit. [179419]

Mr. Stephen Twigg

Schools Directorate is about to undergo a reorganisation which will see the advent of a new 'Primary, Secondary and Delivery Group' in place of the existing Standards and Effectiveness Unit, Secondary Group and Primary and E-Learning Group. It will be responsible for strategy, policy development and programme management for primary and secondary education and for a range of delivery programmes in support of the strategies for each phase.

These changes flow from the Prime Minister's radical reform agenda for the delivery of better quality public services and will reinforce and increase our focus on standards. Raising school standards remains a key priority for the Government and this reorganisation will ensure that this continues.