Formal Minutes
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House of Commons Education and Skills Committee Formal Minutes Session 2005–06 The Education and Skills Committee The Education and Skills Committee is appointed by the House of Commons to examine the expenditure, administration and policy of the Department for Education and Skills and its associated public bodies. Current membership Mr Barry Sheerman MP (Labour, Huddersfield) (Chairman) Mr Douglas Carswell MP (Conservative, Harwich) Mr David Chaytor MP (Labour, Bury North) Jeff Ennis MP (Labour, Barnsley East & Mexborough) Paul Holmes MP (Liberal Democrat, Chesterfield) Helen Jones MP (Labour, Warrington North) Fiona Mactaggart MP (Labour, Slough) Mr Gordon Marsden MP (Labour, Blackpool South) Mr Andrew Pelling MP (Conservative, Croydon Central) Stephen Williams MP (Liberal Democrat, Bristol West) Mr Rob Wilson MP (Conservative, Reading East) The following member was also a member of the Committee during the session – Mrs Nadine Dorries (Conservative, Mid Bedfordshire) Powers The Committee is one of the departmental select committees, the powers of which are set out in House of Commons Standing Orders, principally in SO No 152. These are available on the Internet via www.parliament.uk. Publications The Reports and evidence of the Committee are published by The Stationery Office by Order of the House. All publications of the Committee (including press notices) are on the Internet at www.parliament.uk/edskills/ Committee staff The current staff of the Committee are David Lloyd (Clerk), Jyoti Chandola, (Second Clerk), Nerys Roberts (Committee Specialist), Katie Phelan (Committee Assistant), Susan Ramsay (Committee Secretary) and John Kittle (Senior Office Clerk). Contacts All correspondence should be addressed to the Clerk of the Education and Skills Committee, House of Commons, 7 Millbank, London SW1P 3JA. The telephone number for general enquiries is 020 7219 6181; the Committee’s e-mail address is [email protected] Formal Minutes of the Committee Monday 18 July 2005 Members present: Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods Mr Gordon Marsden Jeff Ennis Mr Barry Sheerman Helen Jones Mr Rob Wilson 1. Declaration of interests Members disclosed their interests, pursuant to the Resolution of the House of Commons of 13 July 1992. Details of declarations of interest are recorded in Appendix 1. 2. Choice of Chairman Mr Barry Sheerman was called to the Chair. 3. Committee proceedings The Committee considered this matter. Ordered, That the public be admitted during the examination of witnesses unless the Committee otherwise orders.— (The Chairman.) Resolved, That the Committee takes note of the rules relating to the confidentiality of Committee proceedings.—(The Chairman.) Ordered, That those who submit memoranda in connection with the Committee’s inquiries have leave to publish them in accordance with the provisions of Standing Order No. 135 (1).—(The Chairman.) 4. First Special Report The Committee considered this matter. Draft Special Report [Government’s Responses to the Committee’s Second Report (Education Outside the Classroom) Sixth Report (National Skills Strategy: 14-19 Rducation) and Eighth report (Teaching Children to read) of Session 2004-2005, proposed by the Chairman, brought up, read the first and second time and agreed to. Resolved, That the Report, as amended, be the First Special Report of the Committee to the House. Ordered, That the Chairman do make the Report to the House. 2 Formal minutes 2005-06 Ordered, That the Government’s response to the Second Report from the Committee in Session 2004-05 (Education Outside the Classroom) be appended to the Report.—(The Chairman.) Ordered, That the Government’s response to the Sixth Report from the Committee in Session 2004-05 (National Skills Strategy: 14-19 Education) be appended to the Report.— (The Chairman.) Ordered, That the Government’s response to the Eighth Report from the Committee in Session 2004-05 (Teaching Children to Read) be appended to the Report.—(The Chairman.) 5. Decision to write Resolved, That the Chairman do write to the Department for Education and Skills in connection with its response to Secondary Education. [Adjourned till Wednesday 20 July at 9.15am Wednesday 20 July 2005 Members present: Mr Barry Sheerman, in the Chair Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods Mr David Evennett Mr David Chaytor Mr Gordon Marsden Mrs Nadine Dorries Stephen Williams Jeff Ennis 1. Declaration of interests Members disclosed their interests, pursuant to the resolution of the House of 13 July 1992. Details of declarations of interest are recorded in Appendix 1. 2. The Committee’s programme of work The Committee considered this matter. 3. Public Expenditure The Committee considered this matter. Resolved, That the Committee inquire into Public Expenditure. Resolved, That the Committee take evidence from the Permanent Secretary at the Department for Education and Skills and the Secretary of State for Education and Skills. 4. Special Educational Needs The Committee considered this matter. Resolved, That the Committee inquire into Special Educational Needs. 5. Further Education The Committee considered this matter. Resolved, That the Committee inquire into Further Education. 6. Decision to take evidence The Committee considered this matter. Resolved, That the Committee take evidence from the Learning and Skills Council. Resolved, That the Committee take evidence from the Higher Education Funding Council for England. Resolved, That the Committee take evidence from Ofsted. Resolved, That the Committee take evidence from the Children’s Commissioner. Resolved, That the Committee take evidence session on citizenship/multiculturalism in schools. 7. The design of school buildings The Committee considered this matter. Resolved, That the Committee inquire into the design of school buildings. [Adjourned till Monday 10 October at 3.30pm Monday 10 October 2005 Members present: Mr Barry Sheerman, in the Chair Mr David Chaytor Tim Farron Mrs Nadine Dorries Mr Gordon Marsden Jeff Ennis Stephen Williams Mr David Evennett Mr Rob Wilson 1. Members interests Mr Rob Wilson disclosed his interests, pursuant to the Resolution of the House of Commons of 13 July 1992. 4 Formal minutes 2005-06 Details of declarations of interest are recorded in Appendix 1. 2. Second Special Report The Committee considered this matter. Draft Special Report [Government’s Response to the Committee’s Third Report (UK e- University) of Session 2004-2005], proposed by the Chairman, brought up, read the first and second time and agreed to. Resolved, That the Report, as amended, be the Second Special Report of the Committee to the House. Ordered, That the Chairman do make the Report to the House. Ordered, That the Government’s response to the Third Report from the Committee in Session 2004-05 UK e-University be appended to the Report.—(The Chairman.) 3. Overseas and UK travel Resolved, That the Committee do visit the Netherlands and Spain in connection with its inquiry into Special Educational Needs and that the Chairman seek the approval of the Liaison Committee for expenditure in connection with the said visit.—(The Chairman.) 4. Specialist advisers Resolved, That Mr Tony Travers be appointed a Specialist Adviser to assist the Committee in matters relating to expenditure.— (The Chairman.) [Adjourned till Wednesday 12 October at 9.15am Wednesday 12 October 2005 Members present: Mr Barry Sheerman, in the Chair Mr David Chaytor Tim Farron Mrs Nadine Dorries Mr Gordon Marsden Jeff Ennis Stephen Williams Mr David Evennett Mr Rob Wilson 1. Public Expenditure on Education and Skills The Committee considered this matter. Sir David Normington, Permanent Secretary, Mr Stephen Kershaw, Director of Finance, and Mr Stephen Crowne, Director, School Resources Group, Department for Education and Skills, gave oral evidence. [Adjourned till Wednesday 19 October at 9.15 am Wednesday 19 October 2005 Members present: Mr Barry Sheerman, in the Chair Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods Helen Jones Mr David Chaytor Mr Gordon Marsden Mrs Nadine Dorries Stephen Williams Jeff Ennis Mr Rob Wilson Tim Farron 1. Higher Education issues The Committee considered this matter. Sir Howard Newby, Chief Executive, Higher Education Funding Council for England, gave oral evidence. [Adjourned till Monday 24 October at 3.30 pm Monday 24 October 2005 Members present: Mr Barry Sheerman, in the Chair Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods Helen Jones Mr David Chaytor Mr Gordon Marsden Mrs Nadine Dorries Stephen Williams Jeff Ennis Mr Rob Wilson Tim Farron 6 Formal minutes 2005-06 1. Schools White Paper The Committee considered this matter. Resolved, That the Committee inquire into the Schools White Paper. 2. Citizenship Education The Committee considered this matter. Professor Sir Bernard Crick, Emeritus Professor, University of London, Miriam Rosen, Director, Education, Ofsted and Scott Harrison, Specialist Subject Adviser for Citizenship, Ofsted, gave oral evidence. Keith Ajegbo, Head of Deptford Green School, and John Clarke, Deputy Director of Children’s Services, Hampshire County Council, gave oral evidence. [Adjourned till Wednesday 26 October at 9.15 am Wednesday 26 October 2005 Members present: Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods Helen Jones Mr David Chaytor Mr Gordon Marsden Mrs Nadine Dorries Stephen Williams Jeff Ennis Mr Rob Wilson Tim Farron In the absence of the Chairman, Helen Jones was called to the Chair. 1. Higher Education issues The Committee considered this matter. Professor Drummond Bone, President of Universities UK, and Baroness Warwick, Chief Executive of Universities UK, gave oral evidence.