Norman Baker MP Member of Parliament for Lewes constituency
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Norman Baker,
23 East Street,
Lewes,
East Sussex,
BN7 2LJ.
Tel: (01273) 480281.
Fax: (01273) 480287.
Email: info
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"A private school is not a fish and chip shop" - independent schools must be better protected, local MP's new Bill says
Local Lib Dem MP, Norman Baker, has this week introduced a Bill in the House of Commons that would protect children from educational disruption similar to that suffered by the 450 pupils of Newlands School in Seaford, which closed suddenly earlier this month.
The Bill, which Mr Baker introduced after Prime Minister’s Questions on 26th April, calls for the Government to establish a trust fund, paid into by independent schools, which would provide emergency financial assistance to independent schools to enable them to close in a timely manner in the event of their going into administration. The Bill would also place a duty of welfare on independent schools to draw up emergency plans to be implemented in such a situation.
Mr Baker’s Bill passed its first stage without opposition and is due to receive its Second Reading in the House of Commons on 14th July 2006
Commenting on his Bill, Norman Baker says:
"I am very pleased to have had the opportunity to introduce this Bill in the Commons. It is intolerable that a situation such as that at Newlands could arise and unbelievable that there was no safety net for children whose education is important to them. A private school is not a fish and chip shop, and it demands better protection for those who depend on it.
"Private schools are independent educational establishments which, although they are private businesses, are nevertheless delivering an essential service to the children who use them. It is important that we have safeguards to protect the education of young people in such circumstances. Such a situation cannot be allowed to happen again. We need a safety net to ensure that, in the event of a school going into liquidation, something can be done to help — at the very least, by allowing a school to close in a timely order."