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Gove pressed on school axe advice Gove pressed on school axe advice
(about 2 hours later)
By Sean Coughlan BBC News education correspondent Michael Gove was challenged over the advice he received on the incorrect listBy Sean Coughlan BBC News education correspondent Michael Gove was challenged over the advice he received on the incorrect list
Education Secretary Michael Gove has faced tough questions on whether he was advised to delay publishing information about axing school building projects.Education Secretary Michael Gove has faced tough questions on whether he was advised to delay publishing information about axing school building projects.
Shadow Education Secretary Ed Balls pressed Mr Gove on the advice received on information that was subsequently found to contain 25 errors.Shadow Education Secretary Ed Balls pressed Mr Gove on the advice received on information that was subsequently found to contain 25 errors.
Mr Gove did not respond to this direct challenge - but attacked the record of the previous administration.Mr Gove did not respond to this direct challenge - but attacked the record of the previous administration.
A fifth version of the list of school building plans has now been published.A fifth version of the list of school building plans has now been published.
A spokesman for Mr Gove said no officials had recommended a delay: "There was no official advice against this course of action."
In questions in the House of Commons, Mr Balls attacked the "arbitrary and chaotic" process by which schools were told whether their rebuilding plans were going to be protected or scrapped.In questions in the House of Commons, Mr Balls attacked the "arbitrary and chaotic" process by which schools were told whether their rebuilding plans were going to be protected or scrapped.
Mr Gove defended his decision to stop the school rebuilding programme.Mr Gove defended his decision to stop the school rebuilding programme.
"Everyone involved in this process said to me: 'Make sure that you ensure that this faltering and failing project ends'," he told MPs."Everyone involved in this process said to me: 'Make sure that you ensure that this faltering and failing project ends'," he told MPs.
ApologyApology
Last week's announcement of the cancelling of the Building Schools for the Future programme was followed by the discovery that the list showing the fate of school projects contained a number of errors.Last week's announcement of the cancelling of the Building Schools for the Future programme was followed by the discovery that the list showing the fate of school projects contained a number of errors.
This included schools in Sandwell believing their building plans had been protected - only to be told that they had been cancelled.This included schools in Sandwell believing their building plans had been protected - only to be told that they had been cancelled.
Sandwell's council leader, Darren Cooper, has claimed there has been further "disappointment" - as he says Mr Gove's proposed visit to school leaders in the area will not now take place before the end of term.
Mr Gove had to apologise to the House of Commons and to local authority leaders for the confusion his statement caused.Mr Gove had to apologise to the House of Commons and to local authority leaders for the confusion his statement caused.
On Monday Mr Gove faced further challenges over the handling of the axing of the building projects.On Monday Mr Gove faced further challenges over the handling of the axing of the building projects.
Mr Balls pushed for answers on whether Mr Gove had been told by any of his officials not to press ahead with publishing information that subsequently proved to contain inaccuracies.Mr Balls pushed for answers on whether Mr Gove had been told by any of his officials not to press ahead with publishing information that subsequently proved to contain inaccuracies.
"Did you at any point receive written or oral advice from departmental officials or Partnerships for Schools urging you not to publish a list of schools until after you had consulted local authorities, to make sure your criteria were sound and your facts were right?" said Mr Balls."Did you at any point receive written or oral advice from departmental officials or Partnerships for Schools urging you not to publish a list of schools until after you had consulted local authorities, to make sure your criteria were sound and your facts were right?" said Mr Balls.
He also asked Mr Gove for a direct answer on whether there had been warnings over the risk of compensation claims from businesses which had won contracts to rebuild schools.He also asked Mr Gove for a direct answer on whether there had been warnings over the risk of compensation claims from businesses which had won contracts to rebuild schools.
Mr Gove did not address these questions, but responded by attacking the record of the previous Labour government.Mr Gove did not address these questions, but responded by attacking the record of the previous Labour government.
"I inherited a mess from you and we are clearing it up," said Mr Gove."I inherited a mess from you and we are clearing it up," said Mr Gove.
There have been suggestions that some construction companies might take legal action over the cancellation of projects.There have been suggestions that some construction companies might take legal action over the cancellation of projects.
Noble Francis, economist at the Construction Products Association, says construction companies want to end the confusion about what is going to happen to the school building programme.Noble Francis, economist at the Construction Products Association, says construction companies want to end the confusion about what is going to happen to the school building programme.
He said there needed to be clarification about how specific decisions were reached - with estimates that building firms had "wasted" £100m in winning bids that have now been cancelled.He said there needed to be clarification about how specific decisions were reached - with estimates that building firms had "wasted" £100m in winning bids that have now been cancelled.
Mr Francis says that the industry expects an overall loss of £39bn from the scrapping of the scheme.Mr Francis says that the industry expects an overall loss of £39bn from the scrapping of the scheme.