Member

I appreciate that some service personnel choose to send their children to private schools where they do not meet the criteria for receipt of the continuity of education allowance. This is a personal choice. The Government’s position remains that financial support should be directed towards those children from military or diplomatic families where the nature of the parent or guardian’s service could cause disruption to that child’s education. Ultimately, to accept these amendments would result in a significant number of private schools that are charities being exempt from the Bill measure, reducing the income raised and subsequently reducing the Government’s ability to deliver on our commitments to education and young people. Amendments 69A and 69B, proposed by the noble Lords, Lord Black of Brentwood and Lord Lexden, would amend the basis on which the rateable value of private schools is calculated by removing private school boarding facilities if the criteria set out are met. As I said in previous debates on the Bill, rateable values are set independently of Ministers by the Valuation Office Agency, and I do not think we should interfere in that process.