Minister tight-lipped

Education Minister Anne Tolley. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Education Minister Anne Tolley refused to be interviewed on calls to make the Teachers' Council more open.

Instead, she released two statements through her press secretary.

The statements contain 251 words on an issue that affects the safety of 760,000 school children.

The first statement said she couldn't comment because the council was a Crown entity.

She managed another 149 words after the Herald on Sunday pointed out the council was formed by an act of Parliament and she appointed four of its 11 members.

In the second statement she noted the majority of the council staff were not appointed by her. She stated: "This is an issue for the Teachers' Council."

A spokesman for John Key said the Prime Minister had taken the weekend off and would not comment.