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Further Education and Training Bill [HL]

Perhaps I may, first, correct the noble Viscount, Lord Eccles, who referred several times to there being 57 local learning and skills councils. I am glad to tell him that the number is 47. His amendment proposes 47 local LSCs, which is the status quo. I make that point because it sounds as though we may be converging rapidly. The number has come down from 57 to 47. I take it that the noble Baroness, Lady Morris, now agrees with the move to the nine regional councils. So I see us converging all the time in agreement on the smaller number rather than the larger number. The noble Baroness remarked on the need to see more money going to the front line and less to bureaucracy. Bureaucracy is not necessarily a bad thing. The noble Viscount is right: a system has to be administered. But I think that he would also accept that we do not want needless administrative layers and structures. We believe that the statutory requirement for 47 is excessive and that we can release additional funds by taking the steps set out in the Bill. I take it that the noble Baroness, Lady Morris, broadly agrees with that. If the discussions between the noble Baroness and her noble friend continue, on Report we might have reached one position. I am delighted that the noble Baroness is with us on the big issue of the reduction from 47 to nine. In response to the noble Viscount, I want to make it clear that there is no lack of confidence on the Government’s part in respect of the Learning and Skills Council. Perhaps I may refer him to the Secretary of State’s grant letter to the Learning and Skills Council, dated 18 October 2006, which welcomes the council’s, "““Annual Statement of Priorities which is being published today””." I will send the noble Lord a copy of the letter because it sets out the tasks allocated to the LSC. The Secretary of State says that he will, "““look to the Council to continue to drive forward progress in these vital areas and to respond effectively to the recommendations from the review on skills which will be published later this autumn””," which is the Leitch report.