To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent representations he has received from the Charity Commission on the method of achieving charitable status for educational academies and colleges; and what steps he plans to take in response to those representations. (310572)

The Department held discussions with the Charity Commission on the way in which academies are registered as charities. As a result of those discussions, I tabled an amendment at Committee stage to remove a clause in the Children, Schools and Families Bill, which would have made changes to those arrangements. A copy of a letter from the chief executive of the Charity Commission and the Permanent Secretary's advice to the Secretary of State has been placed in the Library.