National testing system examined
A certain amount of national testing at key points in a child's school career is necessary in order to provide a standardised means of measuring educational attainment. However in recent years the Government has emphasised central control of the education system through testing, associated targets, and performance tables.
This Report from the Children, Schools and Families Committee, 'Testing and Assessment'
(HC 169-I), examines the current national testing system.
Taxis for Speaker's wife 'consistent with permitted use'
Mr Mark Wallace - Campaign Director of the Taxpayers' Alliance - submitted a complaint to the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner in which he claimed that the cost of certain taxi journeys undertaken by Mrs. Mary Martin, the wife of Mr Speaker, had been improperly met - through the Speaker's Office - from public funds.
This Report from the Committee on Standards and Privileges, 'Conduct of Mr Speaker'
(HC 559), examines the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standard's decision to dismiss the complaint on the grounds that 'the journeys were consistent with the permitted use of taxis for official business and a reasonable use of public funds'.
EC White Paper on Sport examined
The European Scrutiny Committee referred the European Commission (EC) White Paper on Sport, published on 11 July 2007, to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee for an opinion. The White Paper consists of three policy discussions: on the social value of sport; the economic value of sport; and the organisation of sport.
This Report from the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, 'European Commission White Paper on Sport' (HC 347), examines the content of the White Paper - and sport and EU law - in detail.