SATs Testing
22nd July 2008
Mike Penning calls on the Secretary of State to publish legal advice that he has received that says he is unable to say sorry for the SATs testing fiasco.
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead) (Con): Teachers, parents and pupils will be astonished to hear the Secretary of State say that he is unable to say sorry because of the legal advice that he has received. Will he publish that legal advice today?
Ed Balls: I have said that I very much regret what has happened, and I have explained clearly that the advice to me is that I should not comment on anything that would prejudice responsibility. That is the legal advice that I have been given. I have made it clear that I am accountable, but the responsibility lies with the QCA and with ETS Europe. I do not understand why the hon. Gentleman is trying to make comments that would shift that responsibility.
