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Proceeding contribution from Lord Addington (Liberal Democrat) in the House of Lords on Thursday, 15 October 2009. It occurred during Committee of the Whole House (HL) and Debate on bill on Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill.


Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill

I thank the Minister for his comments and for the meetings, but will he also ensure as he goes through this that everything is at least within the spirit of the Disability Discrimination Act? As the Bill is drafted, there may be a legal challenge against it. It has what I, and many people to whom I have spoken, regard as an arbitrary element, although the Minister did not like that term when I used it in discussions with him. The Government have to achieve certain levels but have not achieved the spirit that we have established in many arguments on disability and education over many years in this House, even with changes of government, which is that the system must be flexible to include people. If the noble Lord can give me anassurance now that this will be taken into account, it would increase the speed with which we progress on Report because, unusually for an education Bill, this Bill seems to have missed this issue. I just hope that the Minister can give us an assurance that the Government really will look at it for the rest of the Bill.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
713 c345-6 
Session
2008-09
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
Subjects
Disability Assessments Curriculum Apprentices Adult education Equality Finance Fees and charges Higher education Learning disability Offenders Qualifications Prisons National curriculum tests Political impartiality Statistics Standards Special educational needs Training Sports Vocational education Sixth form colleges Young People's Learning Agency Ofqual
Legislation
Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill 2008-09
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk