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...

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...

Does the Minister accept that these amendments would not turn the Bill into a hybrid?

Does the Minister accept that these amendments would not turn the Bill into a hybrid?

Amendment 95 95: Clause 40, page 23, line 38, at end insert— "( ) ensure that all sixth form provision offers, as a minimum, A level courses in English, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, history, geography, and at least two modern foreign languages"

Amendment 95 95: Clause 40, page 23, line 38, at end insert— "( ) ensure that all sixth form provision offers, as a minimum, A level courses in English, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, history, geography, and at least two modern foreign languages"

Amendment 95 would ensure a bare minimum of standards of education in sixth forms. It would add a paragraph (f) to new Section 15ZA in Clause 40 to impose a duty on local education authorities to ensure that each sixth form must offer A-level courses at least in English, mathematics,...

Amendment 95 would ensure a bare minimum of standards of education in sixth forms. It would add a paragraph (f) to new Section 15ZA in Clause 40 to impose a duty on local education authorities to ensure that each sixth form must offer A-level courses at least in English, mathematics,...

Like the noble Baroness, Lady Sharp, I have put my name to Amendment 94 of the noble Lord, Lord Rix, not because I want to see subsection (4)(e) of new Section 15ZA of the 1996 Act removed from the Bill but because it is important to probe the Government’s intention...

Like the noble Baroness, Lady Sharp, I have put my name to Amendment 94 of the noble Lord, Lord Rix, not because I want to see subsection (4)(e) of new Section 15ZA of the 1996 Act removed from the Bill but because it is important to probe the Government’s intention...

Amendments 98 and 101 are indeed part of wider efforts—as my noble friend Lord Elton said, we will return to them—by your Lordships to secure appropriate provision for those who have learning difficulties by making sure that local education authorities’ duties include testing for and identifying those with learning difficulties...

Amendments 98 and 101 are indeed part of wider efforts—as my noble friend Lord Elton said, we will return to them—by your Lordships to secure appropriate provision for those who have learning difficulties by making sure that local education authorities’ duties include testing for and identifying those with learning difficulties...

I thank all noble Lords for their contributions to this short debate, in particular the noble Baroness, Lady Deech, and I share her concern about foreign languages. My noble friend Lord Lucas said that he supports the spirit of the amendment, and for that at least I am grateful, as...

I thank all noble Lords for their contributions to this short debate, in particular the noble Baroness, Lady Deech, and I share her concern about foreign languages. My noble friend Lord Lucas said that he supports the spirit of the amendment, and for that at least I am grateful, as...

I am grateful to the Minister and to all other noble Lords who have participated in the debate. For today, however, perhaps I may say that I shall give the matter further thought before we come to the Report stage. In the mean time, I beg leave to withdraw the...

I am grateful to the Minister and to all other noble Lords who have participated in the debate. For today, however, perhaps I may say that I shall give the matter further thought before we come to the Report stage. In the mean time, I beg leave to withdraw the...

My noble friend Lord Elton has raised another well considered probing point, and I look forward to hearing the Minister’s response. Clause 43, through its insertion of new Section 51A into the Further and Higher Education Act 1992, creates the power for a local education authority to require an institution...

My noble friend Lord Elton has raised another well considered probing point, and I look forward to hearing the Minister’s response. Clause 43, through its insertion of new Section 51A into the Further and Higher Education Act 1992, creates the power for a local education authority to require an institution...

The Minister mentioned bringing certain information forward, but he did not refer to the information I requested.

The Minister mentioned bringing certain information forward, but he did not refer to the information I requested.

I thank my noble friend Lord Elton for raising this issue, which he has pursued assiduously throughout many Bills and debates in your Lordships’ House. As he says, there is a link between the decline of key interpersonal skills and the increase in criminality. The issue was referred to by...

I thank my noble friend Lord Elton for raising this issue, which he has pursued assiduously throughout many Bills and debates in your Lordships’ House. As he says, there is a link between the decline of key interpersonal skills and the increase in criminality. The issue was referred to by...

I thank the Minister for her response. Perhaps, between now and Report, we can discuss what some of those additional protections are, but, for today, I am happy to withdraw the amendment. Amendment 107A withdrawn.

I thank the Minister for her response. Perhaps, between now and Report, we can discuss what some of those additional protections are, but, for today, I am happy to withdraw the amendment. Amendment 107A withdrawn.

Clause 44 specifies that those who are over compulsory school age but under 19 are entitled to the core and additional entitlements of education. The core entitlement is clearly laid out in new Section 17C, which states that this, ""is an entitlement to follow a course of study in each...

Clause 44 specifies that those who are over compulsory school age but under 19 are entitled to the core and additional entitlements of education. The core entitlement is clearly laid out in new Section 17C, which states that this, ""is an entitlement to follow a course of study in each...

Clause 44: Duties in relation to the core and additional entitlements Amendment 107A 107A: Clause 44, page 26, line 18, leave out "and the additional entitlement are" and insert "is"

Clause 44: Duties in relation to the core and additional entitlements Amendment 107A 107A: Clause 44, page 26, line 18, leave out "and the additional entitlement are" and insert "is"

I agree with the noble Baroness, Lady Sharp, that, in many cases, boarding accommodation can be extremely beneficial to young people, especially those with learning difficulties. My noble friend Lord Baker asked some very important questions, and we look forward to the Minister’s responses to those. In addition, will the...

I agree with the noble Baroness, Lady Sharp, that, in many cases, boarding accommodation can be extremely beneficial to young people, especially those with learning difficulties. My noble friend Lord Baker asked some very important questions, and we look forward to the Minister’s responses to those. In addition, will the...