Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Secretary of State for Education is able to require local authorities to develop local strategic plans to bring local authority maintained schools into the academy system.
My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, does not have the power to require local authorities to develop strategic plans to bring local authority-maintained schools into the academy system. The Schools Bill contains a power for local authorities to support schools in joining academy trusts by applying for academy orders on their behalf.