My Lords, will the Minister say who actually devised the policy of transferring from the Prison Service to two local authorities, the host authority and the home authority, responsibility for the education and training of 16 to 19 year-olds? Many of us are concerned. The noble Lord, Lord Ramsbotham, pointed...

My Lords, will the Minister say who actually devised the policy of transferring from the Prison Service to two local authorities, the host authority and the home authority, responsibility for the education and training of 16 to 19 year-olds? Many of us are concerned. The noble Lord, Lord Ramsbotham, pointed...

I do not think that the noble Baroness, Lady Thornton, was in the Chamber when the noble Baroness, Lady Morgan, was speaking, I assure her that she mentioned local authorities and host authorities repeatedly. If she had been here, she would have heard it. She can hear it from me...

I do not think that the noble Baroness, Lady Thornton, was in the Chamber when the noble Baroness, Lady Morgan, was speaking, I assure her that she mentioned local authorities and host authorities repeatedly. If she had been here, she would have heard it. She can hear it from me...

My Lords, I strongly support what the noble Lord, Lord Ramsbotham, has said and I think the House should listen to him. Few people have as much experience of the Prison Service as he has. This is the only occasion on Report when we have the opportunity to debate this...

My Lords, I strongly support what the noble Lord, Lord Ramsbotham, has said and I think the House should listen to him. Few people have as much experience of the Prison Service as he has. This is the only occasion on Report when we have the opportunity to debate this...

My Lords, it seems to me highly unlikely that the Government will accept this, because it goes to the core of their policy. Is the Minister indicating that he is going to accept it? If so, I will press him to go a little further. The flaw in the Bill...

My Lords, it seems to me highly unlikely that the Government will accept this, because it goes to the core of their policy. Is the Minister indicating that he is going to accept it? If so, I will press him to go a little further. The flaw in the Bill...

May I add to what the noble Baroness has said? The amendments attempt to pin down the responsibility of the local authority to make sure that it will do what the Bill sets out for it to do. Many local authorities might be dilatory in exercising these responsibilities, which are...

May I add to what the noble Baroness has said? The amendments attempt to pin down the responsibility of the local authority to make sure that it will do what the Bill sets out for it to do. Many local authorities might be dilatory in exercising these responsibilities, which are...

Before the amendment is withdrawn, could I ask the Minister to remind the Committee about where the flow of funds is in all this? Clearly, under these two clauses, the local education authority is now responsible for providing adequate education and training for those held in youth custody. That presumably...

Before the amendment is withdrawn, could I ask the Minister to remind the Committee about where the flow of funds is in all this? Clearly, under these two clauses, the local education authority is now responsible for providing adequate education and training for those held in youth custody. That presumably...

I thank the Minister for his clear statement that FE and sixth-form colleges will not have a catchment area and will continue to enjoy the freedom that they have. That is most welcome. It will be welcomed by FE and sixth-form colleges across the country. I also fully recognise the...

I thank the Minister for his clear statement that FE and sixth-form colleges will not have a catchment area and will continue to enjoy the freedom that they have. That is most welcome. It will be welcomed by FE and sixth-form colleges across the country. I also fully recognise the...

Listening to the noble Baroness, Lady Sharp, the Committee has been reminded of the enormous administrative paraphernalia that is going to be created by the Bill. First local authorities will work out local needs assessments, then they will submit to some regional body a regional needs assessment, then this will...

Listening to the noble Baroness, Lady Sharp, the Committee has been reminded of the enormous administrative paraphernalia that is going to be created by the Bill. First local authorities will work out local needs assessments, then they will submit to some regional body a regional needs assessment, then this will...

That applies to sixth-form colleges as well?

That applies to sixth-form colleges as well?

Does that apply to sixth-form colleges as well?

Does that apply to sixth-form colleges as well?

The noble Baroness is coming back.

The noble Baroness is coming back.

From 16 to 18, of course, there will be lots of apprentices who will be earning money. Would they also benefit from this subsidised meal? How would this work? It would be a substantial extra cost to the Government if they said yes to this move.

From 16 to 18, of course, there will be lots of apprentices who will be earning money. Would they also benefit from this subsidised meal? How would this work? It would be a substantial extra cost to the Government if they said yes to this move.

Can the noble Baroness give any indication of what the costs are likely to be if her amendment is passed?

Can the noble Baroness give any indication of what the costs are likely to be if her amendment is passed?

I certainly welcome the clause. First, I declare an interest. I am the president of a charity that provides boarding accommodation for blind and visually impaired children, nursery provision and schools up to the age of 16. We also have an extensive FE college for those aged from 16 to...

I certainly welcome the clause. First, I declare an interest. I am the president of a charity that provides boarding accommodation for blind and visually impaired children, nursery provision and schools up to the age of 16. We also have an extensive FE college for those aged from 16 to...

In view of what the Minister has said—he makes great play about Clause 40 interacting with this clause—perhaps it will be possible to table an amendment to this clause on Report to require the local authority to bear in mind the provision that is provided locally by specialist colleges when...

In view of what the Minister has said—he makes great play about Clause 40 interacting with this clause—perhaps it will be possible to table an amendment to this clause on Report to require the local authority to bear in mind the provision that is provided locally by specialist colleges when...

Before my noble friend continues his argument, would he consider asking the Government to adjourn the Committee, because there is no Member from the government party on their Back Benches? For a party which thought that "Education, education, education" was so important, I should have thought that someone might be...

Before my noble friend continues his argument, would he consider asking the Government to adjourn the Committee, because there is no Member from the government party on their Back Benches? For a party which thought that "Education, education, education" was so important, I should have thought that someone might be...

My Lords, I find little to welcome in the Bill. As the noble Baroness, Lady Blackstone, said, it is a ragbag, a mishmash, a thing of shreds and patches pasted together by a tired department at the fag end of a Government. If it were merely trivial, it would not...

My Lords, I find little to welcome in the Bill. As the noble Baroness, Lady Blackstone, said, it is a ragbag, a mishmash, a thing of shreds and patches pasted together by a tired department at the fag end of a Government. If it were merely trivial, it would not...

My Lords, I do not want to inconvenience the House but many noble Lords present at the moment have sat through most of the education debates in which important and vital matters have been discussed. It is generally agreed that the amendment I seek to move is central to the...

My Lords, I do not want to inconvenience the House but many noble Lords present at the moment have sat through most of the education debates in which important and vital matters have been discussed. It is generally agreed that the amendment I seek to move is central to the...

My Lords, with great respect, I have moved Amendment No. 12. I believe that we should proceed on that basis.

My Lords, with great respect, I have moved Amendment No. 12. I believe that we should proceed on that basis.

My Lords, that is not quite necessary. I moved an amendment; it is for the House to decide whether I am allowed to speak to it.

My Lords, that is not quite necessary. I moved an amendment; it is for the House to decide whether I am allowed to speak to it.