Member

I absolutely support, as a matter of my own faith, working-class education, improvements in working-class education and vocational education, but that is not the issue here. Due to the phrasing of the Bill, the very foundation of the way of life of the Hasidic community in terms of their education is threatened. They are in a very great state of anxiety in relation to this. I do not think anything in this amendment undermines in any way the general structure of the Bill. I say to the noble Lord, Lord Lucas, that I think it gives us an opportunity to discuss how to reach an appropriate, negotiated settlement that can put the well-being of the child absolutely at the centre and the safeguarding of children absolutely and unconditionally in place. The quality of the home education has been really attended to— I can bear witness to this from within the community. All they are asking is for a pause in this, so that they can express their anxieties and their fears and, as “the Lord of Stamford Hill”, I felt it was appropriate to represent those concerns.