East Surrey MP Peter Ainsworth has presented a Petition to the House of Commons on behalf of local families who are worried about Government plans to interfere with the way that parents teach their own children. The Petition, a response to the Badman Report, was organised by the Mead family, who live in Caterham, and was signed by some 90 East Surrey residents.

 If the plans are implemented, they would mean that parents who choose to educate their own children at home would have to apply for an annual licence to do so. In addition, they would introduce a compulsory registration scheme, which would cost many millions of pounds.

 Commenting, Peter Ainsworth said:

 "I warmly congratulate the Mead family on securing so many local signatures and I was very pleased to present their Petition to Parliament. The proposals which the Government is considering represent a completely unacceptable intrusion by the State into family life. They would tie parents up in red tape, and allow Council Officials to enter people's homes and interview their children. Parents would have to get approval from bureaucrats over what, and how, to teach their own children.

"This Petition was part of a national campaign. There is no evidence to suggest that home educated children receive a poorer standard of teaching or are more at risk. I hope the Government gets the message: Back off. These proposals are unnecessary and intrusive".