Jim
Knight: It is important to read the clause in conjunction
with clause 40, which, as we heard, inserts proposed new section 15ZA
into the 1996 Act. New section 15ZA(1)(b) places local authorities
under a firm duty to secure enough suitable education and training to
meet the reasonable needs of people aged between 19 and 25
who are subject to learning difficulty assessment. That is, in effect,
where the “must” in the predecessor Act comes in. Clause
45 clarifies that the local authority may deliver that overriding duty
through boarding accommodation.
The issue is
one of transferring a duty from a national body to local authorities.
In many cases, the local authority would not want to secure the
boarding accommodation within its area, but to ensure that the needs of
its learners, as defined in clause 40, were met out of area. In many
cases, it is more likely that specialist residential provision will be
outside the young person’s home local authority area and will be
needed only for a small number of learners with more intensive support
needs. We envisage local authorities working closely in their
sub-regional groupings to plan and commission provision to meet the
needs of learners in their areas. On that basis, I hope that the hon.
Gentleman will be happy to support the clause.
Clause
45, as amended, accordingly ordered to
stand part of the Bill.
Clause
46Work
experience for persons over compulsory school
age Amendment
made: 269, in clause 46, page 29, leave
out lines 25 to 27.—(Jim
Knight.) This amendment is
consequent on amendment
282. Question
proposed, That the clause, as amended, stand part of the
Bill.
Mr.
Gibb: The clause is a classic
example— 1
pm
The
Chairman adjourned the Committee without Question put (Standing Order
No.
88). Adjourned
till this day at Four
o’clock.
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