After all the build up to the education bill - the crux of Tony Blair's legacy in government - we could at least have had a bit of Parliamentary drama. An impassioned speech from Ruth Kelly, the education secretary, perhaps, a few denunciations from the back benches or offers of doubtful support from the Conservatives.
But no. An education bill was announced and that was that. The Commons went on to discuss "asymetric devolution" and a ten minute bill about caravans.
There was nothing else to do but to go away and read the bill
Its clauses are now being pored over by MPs with biblical fervour - at least that's what they are supposed to be doing, so we don't have to.
There they will find requirements as to foundations, the code for school admissions and restrictions on alteration of admission arrangements. For the very conscientious there is the awesome Schedule 14 on "minor and consequential amendments relating to part 8".
What few in the Westminster hothouse will have realised is that today's education bill gives substantial powers to the Welsh Assembly over schools.
And what is the Assembly going to use those powers for? To avoid Tony Blair's policies on school trusts and admissions which have caused such a furore in the Labour party, you can be pretty sure. But, hey, that's devolution and mature democracy for you.
Jane Davidson, the minister for education and lifelong learning, welcomed the bill, saying the bill included legislation for discipline, behaviour and exclusion and food and drink which were important areas for Welsh schools.
She added: "Framework powers will be used - for the first time for education in Wales - to develop provision further in these fields as policy development work dictates."
Ms Davidson said that the areas covered by the framework powers would also include school admissions, organisation, attendance, food and drink in schools, travel arrangements and a range of measures in support of the 14-19 Learning Pathways agenda.
