Perhaps if I concluded my introductory speech, it would give the Government time, if I extended it a little, to send out harbingers to the Bishops’ Bar and the Lords Tea Room. That would be the sporting thing to do. I return to my Amendment 123, in which, in Clause...

Perhaps if I concluded my introductory speech, it would give the Government time, if I extended it a little, to send out harbingers to the Bishops’ Bar and the Lords Tea Room. That would be the sporting thing to do. I return to my Amendment 123, in which, in Clause...

Surely the answer to that is simple. The Government know exactly what is going on at the moment; they know the current form of words that the noble Lord, Lord Rix, explained so cogently, and they have chosen a different form of words in order to alter the entitlement of...

Surely the answer to that is simple. The Government know exactly what is going on at the moment; they know the current form of words that the noble Lord, Lord Rix, explained so cogently, and they have chosen a different form of words in order to alter the entitlement of...

I thank the noble Lord, Lord Elton, for initiating this interesting debate. During his initial contribution, I was ruminating on whether to declare an interest. I am a school governor at my local primary school, where we are addressing the very problem that he talked about, where English is the...

I thank the noble Lord, Lord Elton, for initiating this interesting debate. During his initial contribution, I was ruminating on whether to declare an interest. I am a school governor at my local primary school, where we are addressing the very problem that he talked about, where English is the...

The noble Baroness, Lady Perry, mentioned the education maintenance allowance. That is paid to school students as well as to college students so, with regard to equity, it is not a question of students getting the allowance and paying for their meals with it. The amendment would put college students...

The noble Baroness, Lady Perry, mentioned the education maintenance allowance. That is paid to school students as well as to college students so, with regard to equity, it is not a question of students getting the allowance and paying for their meals with it. The amendment would put college students...

It has been seen that, if you have a better carbohydrate intake in the morning, you are better at learning in the middle of the day. If you stoke a bit of fuel into these students, you might get a better result from them.

It has been seen that, if you have a better carbohydrate intake in the morning, you are better at learning in the middle of the day. If you stoke a bit of fuel into these students, you might get a better result from them.

This is a probing amendment, on a subject that is appearing in a number of other amendments to other clauses. It is by no means the first time that this subject has been raised. It was raised in connection with the Education and Skills Bill only last year. The Minister...

This is a probing amendment, on a subject that is appearing in a number of other amendments to other clauses. It is by no means the first time that this subject has been raised. It was raised in connection with the Education and Skills Bill only last year. The Minister...

Amendment 96 in the name of my noble friend Lord Lucas is welcome and I support it—indeed, I have put my name to it. I hope the Minister will give it a favourable response. I am assured that, on the first point, he will be able to offer some comfort...

Amendment 96 in the name of my noble friend Lord Lucas is welcome and I support it—indeed, I have put my name to it. I hope the Minister will give it a favourable response. I am assured that, on the first point, he will be able to offer some comfort...

My noble friend Lord Elton has once again brought forward a particularly sharp and important amendment. This time he is not tightening the drafted legislation but is attempting to tighten a crucial part of the policy within it. I am sure that most noble Lords around this Chamber will have...

My noble friend Lord Elton has once again brought forward a particularly sharp and important amendment. This time he is not tightening the drafted legislation but is attempting to tighten a crucial part of the policy within it. I am sure that most noble Lords around this Chamber will have...

Amendment 107 107: After Clause 43, insert the following new Clause— "Free meals for 16 to 18 year olds in colleges (1) A local education authority may provide registered students at— (a) a sixth form college; or (b) a further education college, who are over compulsory school age, but under...

Amendment 107 107: After Clause 43, insert the following new Clause— "Free meals for 16 to 18 year olds in colleges (1) A local education authority may provide registered students at— (a) a sixth form college; or (b) a further education college, who are over compulsory school age, but under...

Having listened to the debate, I think that this is a question of equity, as the noble Baroness, Lady Perry, said. The noble Baroness, Lady Sharp, has raised an important point. If young people are required to stay on at school—it may be part work and part study but, nevertheless,...

Having listened to the debate, I think that this is a question of equity, as the noble Baroness, Lady Perry, said. The noble Baroness, Lady Sharp, has raised an important point. If young people are required to stay on at school—it may be part work and part study but, nevertheless,...

This amendment seeks to amend Section 321(2) of the Education Act 1996, which puts a general duty on local education authorities to, ""exercise their powers with a view to securing that, of the children for whom they are responsible, they identify those to whom subsection (2) below applies … This...

This amendment seeks to amend Section 321(2) of the Education Act 1996, which puts a general duty on local education authorities to, ""exercise their powers with a view to securing that, of the children for whom they are responsible, they identify those to whom subsection (2) below applies … This...

What arrangements will there be to consult local authorities about apprenticeships for social work? The Government have introduced a degree course in social work, which is very welcome, but it has attracted a younger group of people into social work. There is great advantage in also securing people with life...

What arrangements will there be to consult local authorities about apprenticeships for social work? The Government have introduced a degree course in social work, which is very welcome, but it has attracted a younger group of people into social work. There is great advantage in also securing people with life...

This set of amendments is about consultation, asking that local authorities and the chief executive for skills funding consult with employers, trade associations, chambers of commerce and sector skills councils about what sort of training is needed for the local workforce in any particular area. Amendment 93 relates to Clause...

This set of amendments is about consultation, asking that local authorities and the chief executive for skills funding consult with employers, trade associations, chambers of commerce and sector skills councils about what sort of training is needed for the local workforce in any particular area. Amendment 93 relates to Clause...

Clause 40: Education and training for persons over compulsory school age: general duty Amendment 93 93: Clause 40, page 23, line 33, at end insert— "( ) consult with local employers and their representatives, including, where appropriate, those persons designated in section 11(1)(b) of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning...

Clause 40: Education and training for persons over compulsory school age: general duty Amendment 93 93: Clause 40, page 23, line 33, at end insert— "( ) consult with local employers and their representatives, including, where appropriate, those persons designated in section 11(1)(b) of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning...

Like other noble Lords who have spoken, we feel that the noble Baroness, Lady Sharp, has brought forward some very important amendments in this group. The support from these Benches for Amendments 93, 104 and 105 will be clear from the fact that my noble friend Lady Verma and I...

Like other noble Lords who have spoken, we feel that the noble Baroness, Lady Sharp, has brought forward some very important amendments in this group. The support from these Benches for Amendments 93, 104 and 105 will be clear from the fact that my noble friend Lady Verma and I...

I, too, support the amendments. The LEAs will require all the help that they can get to secure these places. I say that not least because I read today in Children & Young People Now that staff will be transferred from the Learning and Skills Council, but that in some...

I, too, support the amendments. The LEAs will require all the help that they can get to secure these places. I say that not least because I read today in Children & Young People Now that staff will be transferred from the Learning and Skills Council, but that in some...

On the face of it, this is a rather sensible group of amendments. Obviously it is very important for LEAs to consult sector skills councils. They are probably a better route than employers’ groups because they think very carefully about education and training needs. My experience of consulting employers more...

On the face of it, this is a rather sensible group of amendments. Obviously it is very important for LEAs to consult sector skills councils. They are probably a better route than employers’ groups because they think very carefully about education and training needs. My experience of consulting employers more...

I thank the noble Baroness for what she has said. I quite agree that it has been very important to raise the status of social work by introducing a degree. I also quite agree that it is also very important that we recognise that child and family social workers must...

I thank the noble Baroness for what she has said. I quite agree that it has been very important to raise the status of social work by introducing a degree. I also quite agree that it is also very important that we recognise that child and family social workers must...

It seems totally reasonable to include the amendment in the Bill. Consultation is a part of the process to make certain that we get the right policy. Unless we can be assured that that has happened anyway and will continue as the schemes are put into practice, it would be...

It seems totally reasonable to include the amendment in the Bill. Consultation is a part of the process to make certain that we get the right policy. Unless we can be assured that that has happened anyway and will continue as the schemes are put into practice, it would be...

I am pleased to see the amendment. I mention one particular group representing employers, which I believe has a greater role to play than it is currently being enabled to do: the chambers of commerce. Having talked to representatives of chambers of commerce, I know that they are very conscious...

I am pleased to see the amendment. I mention one particular group representing employers, which I believe has a greater role to play than it is currently being enabled to do: the chambers of commerce. Having talked to representatives of chambers of commerce, I know that they are very conscious...