Speech in Lords Chamber - Fri 24 Nov 2017
Home Education (Duty of Local Authorities) Bill [HL]
"My Lords, there is a difficult balance to be struck between the rights of parents to have the education for their child that they choose and the rights of the child. That is what I have tried to do in this Bill. We need to get that balance right. Let …..."Lord Soley - View Speech
View all Lord Soley (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Home Education (Duty of Local Authorities) Bill [HL]
Speech in Lords Chamber - Fri 24 Nov 2017
Home Education (Duty of Local Authorities) Bill [HL]
"My Lords, I am very grateful to everyone who has spoken in the debate, and I can fairly confidently say that they all know far more about education in the round than I shall ever know. But I do know something about Parliament’s ability to balance competing rights, and there …..."Lord Soley - View Speech
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Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 11 Jan 2017
Children: Safeguarding
"My Lords, the Minister might remember that the problem has been raised here a number of times of home-educated children who have not been seen by anybody and are subject to abuse. I am happy to send him the details of another case from the last month or two, of …..."Lord Soley - View Speech
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Speech in Lords Chamber - Thu 03 Nov 2016
Brexit: Impact on Universities and Scientific Research
"
That this House takes note of the potential impact of the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union on funding for universities and scientific research...."Lord Soley - View Speech
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Speech in Lords Chamber - Thu 03 Nov 2016
Brexit: Impact on Universities and Scientific Research
"My Lords, in moving this Motion let me say that I fully respect the decision of the court today and the Government’s position. I know that it is not a matter for debate today but some of the things that I will say will indicate that Parliament can have a …..."Lord Soley - View Speech
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Speech in Lords Chamber - Thu 03 Nov 2016
Brexit: Impact on Universities and Scientific Research
"I think we all look forward to that letter, which I hope is a very full one. I thank profoundly just about every Member of this House for the thoughtful, insightful comments that have been made across the field. There is no doubt in my mind that scientific research and …..."Lord Soley - View Speech
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Written Question
Monday 1st February 2016
Asked by:
Lord Soley (Labour - Life peer)
Question
to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they collect any statistics on the number of children who have been attending unregistered schools who are alleged to have suffered abuse; and whether they will publish any such statistics.
Answered by Lord Nash
The Department does not hold any data on the number of children who are the subject of abuse inquiries, whose parents or guardians have been convicted of abuse, or who are alleged to have suffered abuse. We are taking steps to ensure that the education system is as robust as it can be when it comes to protecting young people. It is unacceptable for any child of compulsory school age not to receive a suitable education. Local authorities have a responsibility to ensure that this does not happen.
The Department has taken robust steps to tackle unregistered schools. We are working closely with Ofsted who have agreed to take forward prosecutions for settings operating illegally as unregistered independent schools. We have also published proposals to introduce a new system to regulate out-of-school education settings which teach children intensively, and to intervene and impose sanctions where there are safety or welfare concerns. The call for evidence on out-of-school education settings closed on 11 January 2016 and responses are being analysed.
Written Question
Monday 1st February 2016
Asked by:
Lord Soley (Labour - Life peer)
Question
to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they collect any statistics on the number of children being educated at home who are the subject of abuse inquiries, or where the parents or guardian have been convicted of abuse; and whether they will publish any such statistics.
Answered by Lord Nash
The Department does not hold any data on the number of children who are the subject of abuse inquiries, whose parents or guardians have been convicted of abuse, or who are alleged to have suffered abuse. We are taking steps to ensure that the education system is as robust as it can be when it comes to protecting young people. It is unacceptable for any child of compulsory school age not to receive a suitable education. Local authorities have a responsibility to ensure that this does not happen.
The Department has taken robust steps to tackle unregistered schools. We are working closely with Ofsted who have agreed to take forward prosecutions for settings operating illegally as unregistered independent schools. We have also published proposals to introduce a new system to regulate out-of-school education settings which teach children intensively, and to intervene and impose sanctions where there are safety or welfare concerns. The call for evidence on out-of-school education settings closed on 11 January 2016 and responses are being analysed.