One of David Cameron’s Shadow Ministers failed to declare his interests when promoting school academies for an organisation of which he is a patron.

Shadow Transport Minister Lord Hanningfield, who is also the Conservative Leader of Essex County Council, is Patron of three former County Council secondary schools in Essex which since last autumn have been run by the Academies Enterprise Trust for whom he has been named as its Patron.

Last month Essex County Council announced that two more of its schools – Bishops Park and Colbayns both at Clacton – were to become academies under the auspices of the Academies Enterprise Trust.

Lord Hanningfield’s involvement with the Trust is not listed by him in either the Register of Interests at Essex County Council, a requirement under the Local Government Act 2000, nor in the Register of Members’ Interests in the House of Lords.

The failure to declare such an interest is a matter which the Standards Board for England and the House of Lords authorities will now be required to investigate. Both will be contacted by Colchester MP Bob Russell.

Liberal Democrat Mr Russell said that he had made enquiries after becoming increasingly concerned at the way in which Lord Hanningfield was promoting Academies in Essex.

“I discovered that Lord Hanningfield was Patron of the Academies Enterprise Trust. I have no idea whether this is a voluntary position, but regardless of whether it is voluntary or if there is any payment he clearly has a significant interest in the promotion of Academies in Essex.

“The rules are quite clear, both at Parliamentary level and in Local Government. Members and Councillors must declare their interests. Lord Hanningfield has not done so in the Registers of Interests at both the House of Lords nor at Essex County Council.”

Lord Hanningfield is currently leading for the County Council on proposals to close two secondary schools in Colchester and create an Academy, although no mention has been made if it is intended that it will join the other Academies in Essex under the Academies Enterprise Trust.

There is widespread opposition in Colchester to the proposed closure of the two schools.

The existing Academies managed by the Academies Enterprise Trust are The Greensward Academy at Hockley and two in Witham, The Maltings Academy and The Rickstones Academy.