BENEFACTORS AND PATRONS OF FREE SCHOOLS AND CONFLICT OF INTEREST

That this House is gravely concerned that apparent benefactors and patrons of so-called free schools are able to benefit financially, directly or indirectly, from contracts awarded to them or to their companies; notes that a company of the Conservative vice-chairman Alan Lewis, who is a patron of the Kings Science Academy in Bradford, is being paid almost £6 million over 20 years to lease the land on which the academy was built with £10 million of public money; believes that such deals are not just against the public interest but involve a clear conflict of interest; and calls on the Government to ensure that those setting up so-called free schools or becoming patrons of them cannot benefit financially, directly or indirectly, through contracts placed by so-called free schools.