In the Second Assembly he was Chair of the Committee on School Funding and of the House Committee from 9 Nov 2006; Member of the Assembly Shadow Commission, set up to prepare the way for the Third Assembly; and Conservative education spokesman in the National Assembly, Chairman of the Conservative Group and Chief Whip.
During his time in the Second Assembly, he held key positions including Chair of the Committee on School Funding and House Committee from 9 Nov 2006; Member of the Assembly Shadow Commission, which laid groundwork for the Third Assembly; and as a leading voice on education within the National Assembly, where he also served as Chairman of the Conservative Group and Chief Whip.