The Lords has been in the news again over the issue of expenses. The sooner we get the problem sorted the better. As I said on the BBC’s Record Review last week, each House needs a system that is both simple and transparent. The rules and the transactions need to be clear to everybody: transparency is the best…
I have now read the full text of Pope Benedict’s address to the bishops of England and Wales. It is quite clear that he was referring to an existing law passed a year or two ago, and NOT to the current Equality Bill. Accusations of interference in British internal affairs were therefore unfounded.
Last Friday, the House debated a Private Member’s Bill introduced by UKIP peer, Lord Willoughby de Broke. His Constitutional Reform Bill was certainly not lacking in radical provisions (withdrawal from the EU, repeal of the Human Rights Act and the like). I spoke and used the opportunity to link the Bill to the government’s approach…
The Constitution Committee had its final evidence-taking session yesterday on its inquiry into referendums. The witness was Michael Wills, the minister of state in the Department of Justice, who has responsibility for constitutional issues. He came out with some interesting observations. When asked about the role the government should take once a referendum campaign was under…
Once again I am fully in support of Lord Soley’s comments. I am impressed by the vigorous way in which the lobby for unregulated home education responded to this blog, but I remain concerned. If home education is as good as is claimed, then there is nothing to fear from some inspection. If a child…
An interesting aspect of my post below and the one by Baroness Deech is that they attracted few responses from many of our non committed bloggers. I would like to hear their views. There is nothing wrong with a lobbying group of strongly committed people – they are essential to the democratic process but I…
There seems to be growing external and internal support for the green revolution in Iran. This is the latest site I have found promoting the internal resistance. http://www.li.com/
I agree with Lord Soley, not only that there may be dangers in uninspected home education, but also that children miss out on many advantages if they do not spend their time in the company of other schoolchildren. Learning to mix, discipline, sport, drama, outings, various aspects of learning that are not available at home.…
I have received a number of letters and emails expressing concern about Schedule 1 of Clause 26 of the Children, Schools and Families Bill which sets out the Government’s scheme for compulsory registration and monitoring of all home educated children in England. The Home Education Advisory Service believes that the proposed powers of local authorities to…
