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Further Education and Training Bill [HL]

I thank the Minister for his reply, the noble Baroness, Lady Walmsley, for her support and my noble friend Lord Norton of Louth for his intervention. I have tabled further amendments on the powers of intervention of the Learning and Skills Council, so I will not say very much in reply to the Minister now other than that there is concern that this body is unelected and that powers are moving from the Secretary of State, who is ultimately answerable to the electorate, into the hands of a body that is not answerable to any electorate. Although this body will be much slimmed down, which we welcome, it has increasing powers and a huge bearing on the lives of many people. We are worried about it, but I shall touch on that later. For now, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.