To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what consideration he has given to requiring academies to operate according to the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document; what recent representations he has received on this matter; and whether he plans to consult on it. (169308)

[holding answer 29 November 2007]: Academies are independent schools. One of their key features is the freedom to be innovative in the way they reward and retain staff. That said, we know that many Academies base their pay and conditions on the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document. We have no plans to make that compulsory and have received few representations on the subject.