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Further Education and Training Bill [HL]

My Lords, first, I congratulate the noble Baroness, Lady Turner of Camden, on succeeding where many of us have failed. I am glad that the Government have come some way in amendments to be moved in a later group to meet the concerns raised by the noble Baroness,Lady Sharp, in Grand Committee and again hereby the noble Baroness, Lady Walmsley. However, the government amendment to allow the Secretary of State to specify other people and organisations which the Learning and Skills Council should consult falls a long way short of providing sufficient reassurance.In reply to this amendment or when he moves his amendments, can the Minister confirm which organisations he intends to include in guidance? The Learning and Skills Council has enormous powers over further education providers and will have yet more when the Bill goes through. It is only right that those powers are wielded with the utmost care to ensure that local organisations are listened to and their concerns acted on. I hope that the Government will consider whether the amendment moved by the noble Baroness can be more positively incorporated into theirs.