To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what meetings took place between the Minister for Schools and officials at the National Assessment Agency during 2008.[Official Report, 4 June 2009, Vol. 493, c. 5MC.] (245828)

I met with David Gee, managing director of the then National Assessment Agency (NAA), on 17 June and with David Gee and Ken Boston, chief executive of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA), on 2 July. I also met with Ken Boston on 3 July. These meetings related to the delivery of national curriculum tests in 2008. As set out in Lord Sutherland’s report there were regular meetings between senior officials in the Department, QCA and NAA, as part of the governance arrangements explained in the report to monitor QCA’s delivery of its remit.

I also met with officials from QCA on 6 February, 18 March, 6 August, 14 August and 15 September to discuss matters relating to QCA’s wider agenda.