The Education and Skills Bill which would introduce a requirement to remain in education or training beyond the current statutory leaving age of 16, was debated at third reading in the Lords.
Baroness Morgan moved an amendment committing to undertake a review of the enforcement process for young people who did not comply with the duty to participate so that the system may be improved. She emphasised that young people should be offered appropriate support and a real learning option before any enforcement action could be started. There must be a process of administrative sanctions, support and dialogue with the young person concerned before they reach a youth court, she insisted.
Opposition
Baroness Walmsley stated that the Liberal Democrats had consistently opposed the compulsion element of the Bill. She questioned if a conviction of this nature would be revealed in a Criminal Record Bureau check.
Liberal Democrat Innovation, Universities and Skills Spokesperson Baroness Sharp of Guildford moved an amendment to extend the right to good quality careers guidance to 16 and 17 years olds and asked the Government to clarify whether they intended to extend the regulations in this area when the education leaving age was raised to 18.
No clear benefits
Responding, Baroness Morgan argued that if the statutory duty was extended to 18-year-olds then it would make sense to place similar duty on other providers of post-16 education which raised a range of practical and legal difficulties while not necessarily providing any clear benefits.
She went on to state that the next Education and Skills Bill would seek to transfer the responsibility for education and training provision from the learning and Skills Council to local authorities. This along with the transfer of the Connexions Service would be a significant change. She emphasised this matter would be looked into seriously, she said.
At the close of the debate, the Bill was passed at third reading and returned to the House of Commons with amendments.