What’s got me excited about the education space is the growth of the Internet over the next 10, 20, 30 years.

In Holland, they have come to precisely the same conclusion. There they have adopted a system of secular education, because they have found it impracticable to unite the religious bodies in any system of combined religious instruction.

I grew up in an non-athletic family, where my parents were interested in music, in literature, in education and art.

Where the private sector, or anyone else, has skills, knowledge and resources that can help to deliver a high quality of education and to raise standards, we should use them.

I have said it on several occasions, several times from this podium, that providing a quality education for our children is high on my priority list. I will not stop now.

I know there are things I did in education that will never be reversed. I have not done that in film yet because I have only been here for about nine months.

The institution of a public library, containing books on education, would be well adapted for the information of teachers, many of whom are not able to purchase expensive publications on those subjects.

Of course the EU and member states must work to ensure that people moving from one country to another understand their obligations and their rights in areas like health, road safety and further education.

If bringing up the next generation is important, why aren’t they the best qualified, the best paid? Why aren’t we as concerned about their career progression as we are about those who work in the education or health services?

At different times I taught humanities, social sciences and pre-vocational education.