Education Bill

I have made it clear that I am not going to give way at this juncture, because I fear that my right hon. Friend is trying to encourage me to stray, but I will give way to him in a few moments when I have made a little more progress. There was a debate in the other place on the importance of staff and student governors in colleges. Ensuring strong staff and student representation on a governing body is of importance to me. During the passage of the Bill, I have had positive discussions with the National Union of Students and the University and College Union on this subject, as has my noble Friend Lord Hill. We were anxious to ensure that staff and student involvement helped not only to inform good practice in colleges but to shape the offer in those colleges. As a result of those discussions, we continue to require colleges to have such governors on their boards. The House will want to be reminded that this requirement was warmly supported by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch, who was"““pleased…that this commitment””" was"““honoured in both spirit and practice in the amendment””" that was brought before the Lords and that we are discussing this evening. In fact, Baroness Jones went further and acknowledged that our amendment"““is indeed better than that tabled by those on our own Benches on this issue””.—[Official Report, House of Lords, 9 November 2011; Vol. 732, c. 332.]" How often does one receive a tribute as generous, but as deserved, as that? I now happily give way to my right hon. Friend the Member for East Yorkshire (Mr Knight).