Member

Amendment 502G in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Carter of Haslemere, would prevent any element of Part 2 of the Bill applying should it conflict with a parent’s ability to educate in line with their own religious or philosophical convictions. I can assure the noble Lord that, as we have declared, the provisions within the Bill are compatible with the convention rights. We have published an ECHR memorandum and have already covered quite a few of the issues that the noble Lord raised about Part 2 in debates. I am afraid that I do not accept his characterisation of either the Government or the Bill. The Government support parents’ rights to educate children in accordance with their faith. We demonstrate this through our support for faith schools operating in the state and independent sectors. As I have previously made clear, Part 2 is not aimed at unreasonably restricting these rights; rather, it aims to provide parents and children with a core guarantee of quality education and to ensure that safeguards are in place for all children. It does not prevent children receiving education in accordance with the tenets of their faith, provided that the education is suitable and safe. We continue to support and uphold those rights for parents, but importantly for children too, when it comes to safeguarding and ensuring their ability to have an appropriate and excellent education.