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Further Education and Training Bill [HL]

Perhaps I may come back to this issue for the benefit of the noble Baroness, Lady Hamwee. One of the draft regulations that I circulated to the Committee is the draft directions and guidance to the London strategy-making body under Clause 4. Paragraph 8 lists the bodies which the board must consult when formulating its strategy. They are: the Learning and Skills Council, the London Development Agency, Jobcentre Plus, the London Skills Commission, the London borough councils and the Corporation of London, the Greater London Authority, FE colleges in Greater London, employer organisations, trade unions, voluntary bodies—some or all of whose activities benefit the whole or part of Greater London—bodies which represent the different racial, ethnic or national groups in Greater London, bodies which represent the interests of different religious groups in Greater London, bodies which represent the interests of persons carrying on business in Greater London and any other organisations or individuals whom the Mayor of London and board consider likely to be affected by the strategy and appropriate to consult. That seems an entirely reasonable list of consultees. If the noble Baroness has particular concerns about it, she can regard this Committee as a consultation. I will welcome her views and the Secretary of State will take full account of them. We are talking here about the direction that the board must consult those bodies.