(13) The “relevant
requirements” in relation to a notice given under sub-paragraph
(6)(c) are met if-
(a) the “appropriate
amount” has been determined in accordance with paragraph A3(3),
or
18 July 2006 : Column 1246
(b) the authority have withdrawn notice of their claim in
accordance with sub-paragraph
(8).”
Page
151, line 20, after second “the” insert “publicly
funded”
Page 151, line 22, leave out “the
proceeds of disposal” and insert “those
proceeds”
Page
151, line 33, after second “the” insert “publicly
funded”
Page
151, line 34, leave out “the proceeds of disposal” and
insert “those
proceeds”
Page
151, line 49, leave out from beginning to end of line 5 on page 152 and
insert-
“A4 (1) This
paragraph applies where the disposal is made.
(1A) The governing body
must notify the authority that the disposal has been made and of the
amount of the proceeds of disposal.
(a)
the authority gave notice of their claim to the whole or a part of the
publicly funded proceeds of disposal in accordance with paragraph
A2(6)(c), and (b) the “appropriate
amount” has been determined in accordance with paragraph A3(3)
to be an amount greater than zero,
the governing body must pay the “appropriate
amount” to the
authority.”
Page
152, line 6, after “remaining” insert “publicly
funded”
Page
152, line 8, after “remaining” insert “publicly
funded”
Page
152, line 14, at end insert “publicly
funded”
Page
152, line 24, after “the” insert “publicly
funded”
Page
152, leave out line 26 and insert-
“( ) The “remaining
publicly funded proceeds of disposal” means the amount of the
publicly
funded”
Page
152, line 29, leave out from “A3(3),” to end of line
31.
Page
152, line 32, after “Sub-paragraphs” insert
“(1B),”
Page 152, line 32,
leave out from “paragraph” to end ofline 33 and
insert “A2(11) (restriction on use of publicly funded proceeds
of disposal where notices given under paragraph A2(6)(b) or
(c)).”
Page
152, line 34, leave out from beginning to end of line 28 on page
154.
Page
154, line 28, at end insert-
“A6A(1) This paragraph applies
where-
(a) the authority gave notice of their
objection to the disposal in accordance with paragraph A2(6)(a),
and (b) the adjudicator has determined
that he does not approve the disposal.
(2) The governing body may apply to the
adjudicator for an order to be made by him requiring the land or any
part of the land to be transferred to such local authority as he may
specify subject to the payment by that authority of such sum by way of
consideration (if any) as he determines to be appropriate.
(3) Before making an application under
sub-paragraph (2), the governing body must give the local education
authority notice of their intention to make the
application.”
Page
156, line 24, leave out “A13” and insert
“A13A”
Page
156, line 24, at end insert “and paragraph
A22”
Page
156, line 32, after “the” insert “publicly
funded”
Page
156, line 33, leave out “those proceeds” and insert
“the proceeds of
disposal”
Page
156, line 33, at end insert-
“( ) For the
purposes of this paragraph and paragraphs A10 and A11, the
“publicly funded proceeds of disposal” means the proceeds
of disposal which are attributable to the land having been acquired or
enhanced in value, or both, as the case may be, as mentioned in the
relevant paragraph or paragraphs of sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph
A8.”
Page
156, line 38, at end insert “publicly
funded”
18 July 2006 : Column 1247
Page 156, line 40, after second
“the” insert “publicly
funded”
Page 157, line 4, leave out
“(6)” and insert
“(6)(a)”
Page
157, line 6, leave out from “where” to second
“are” in line 8 and insert “the authority give
notice of their objection to the disposal in accordance with
sub-paragraph (6)(a), the relevant requirements in relation to such a
notice”
Page
157, line 12, leave out from “disposal” to end of line 16
and insert “on or after the expiry of the requisite period until
the relevant requirements in relation to such a notice are
met.”
Page
157, line 16, at end insert-
“( ) The “relevant
requirements” in relation to a notice given under sub-paragraph
(6)(a) are met if-
(a) the adjudicator has
approved the disposal on a reference made under paragraph A10(1),
or (b) the authority have withdrawn notice
of their objection to the disposal in accordance with sub-paragraph
(8).”
Page
157, line 17, leave out from beginning to end of line 32 and
insert-
“(11) If the
authority give either or both of the following notices in relation to
the disposal in accordance with sub-paragraph (6)-
(a) notice of their objection to the proposed use of the
publicly funded proceeds of disposal under sub-paragraph
(6)(b); (b) notice of their claim to the
whole or a part of the publicly funded proceeds of disposal under
sub-paragraph (6)(c), the foundation
body may not use the publicly funded proceeds of disposal until the
relevant requirements in relation to each notice so given are
met.
(12) The
“relevant requirements” in relation to a notice given
under sub-paragraph (6)(b) are met if-
(a) the
relevant capital expenditure upon which the publicly funded proceeds of
disposal are to be used has been determined in accordance with
paragraph A10(2), or (b) the authority
have withdrawn notice of their objection to the proposed use of the
publicly funded proceeds of disposal in accordance with sub-paragraph
(8).
(13) The
“relevant requirements” in relation to a notice given
under sub-paragraph (6)(c) are met if-
(a) the
“appropriate amount” has been determined in accordance
with paragraph A10(3), or (b) the
authority have withdrawn notice of their claim in accordance with
sub-paragraph
(8).”
Page
157, line 39, after “of the” insert “publicly
funded”
Page
157, line 41, leave out “the proceeds of disposal” and
insert “those
proceeds”
Page
158, line 2, after second “the” insert “publicly
funded”
Page
158, line 3, leave out “the proceeds of disposal” and
insert “those
proceeds”
Page
158, line 18, leave out from beginning to end of line 23 and
insert-
“A11 (1) This
paragraph applies where the disposal is made.
(1A) The foundation body must notify the
authority that the disposal has been made and of the amount of the
proceeds of disposal.
(a) the authority gave notice of their
claim to the whole or a part of the publicly funded proceeds of
disposal in accordance with paragraph A9(6)(c),
and
18 July 2006 : Column 1248
(b) the “appropriate amount” has been
determined in accordance with paragraph A10(3) to be an amount greater
than zero, the foundation body must
pay the “appropriate amount” to the
authority.”
Page
158, line 24, after “remaining” insert “publicly
funded”
Page 158, line 26, after
“remaining” insert “publicly
funded”
Page
158, line 32, at end insert “publicly
funded”
Page
158, line 42, after “the” insert “publicly
funded”
Page
158, leave out line 44 and insert-
“( ) The “remaining
publicly funded proceeds of disposal” means the amount of the
publicly
funded”
Page
158, line 47, leave out from “A10(3),” to end of line
49.
Page
159, line 1, after “Sub-paragraphs” insert
“(1B),”
Page
159, line 1, leave out from “paragraph” to end of line 2
and insert “A9(11) (restriction on use of publicly funded
proceeds of disposal where notices given under paragraph A9(6)(b) or
(c)).”
Page
159, line 3, leave out from beginning to end of line 47 on page
160.
Page
160, line 47, at end insert-
“A13A(1) This paragraph applies
where-
(a) the authority gave notice of their
objection to the disposal in accordance with paragraph A9(6)(a),
and (b) the adjudicator has determined
that he does not approve the disposal.
(2) The foundation body may apply to the
adjudicator for an order to be made by him requiring the land or any
part of the land to be transferred to such local authority as he may
specify subject to the payment by that authority of such sum by way of
consideration (if any) as he determines to be appropriate.
(3) Before making an application under
sub-paragraph (2), the foundation body must give the local education
authority notice of its intention to make the
application.”
Page 162, line 40, after
“by” insert “the trustees
from”
Page
162, line 40, at end insert “which was land acquired by the
governing
body”
Page
163, line 34, leave out “A20” and insert
“A20A”
Page
163, line 34, at end insert “and paragraph
A22”
Page
164, line 3, after “the” insert “publicly
funded”
Page
164, line 4, leave out “those proceeds” and insert
“the proceeds of
disposal”
Page 164, line 4, at end
insert-
“( ) For the
purposes of this paragraph and paragraphs A17 and A18, the
“publicly funded proceeds of disposal” means the proceeds
of disposal which are attributable to the land having been acquired or
enhanced in value, or both, as the case may be, as mentioned in the
relevant paragraph or paragraphs of sub-paragraph (1), (2) or (3) of
paragraph
A15.”
Page
164, line 9, at end insert “publicly
funded”
Page
164, line 11, after second “the” insert “publicly
funded”
Page
164, line 21, leave out “(8)” and insert
“(8)(a)”
Page
164, line 23, leave out from “where” to second
“are” in line 25 and insert “the authority give
notice of their objection to the disposal in accordance with
sub-paragraph (8)(a), the relevant requirements in relation to such a
notice”
Page
164, line 28, leave out from “disposal” to end of line 32
and insert “on or after the expiry of the requisite period until
the relevant requirements in relation to such a notice are
met.”
Page
164, line 32, at end insert-
“( ) The “relevant
requirements” in relation to a notice given under sub-paragraph
(8)(a) are met if-
18 July 2006 : Column 1249
(a) the adjudicator has approved the disposal on a
reference made under paragraph A17(1), or
(b) the authority have withdrawn notice of their
objection to the disposal in accordance with sub-paragraph
(10).”
Page
164, line 33, leave out from beginning to end of line 48 and
insert-
“(13) If the
authority give either or both of the following notices in relation to
the disposal in accordance with sub-paragraph (8)-
(a) notice of their objection to the proposed use of the
publicly funded proceeds of disposal under sub-paragraph
(8)(b); (b) notice of their claim to the
whole or a part of the publicly funded proceeds of disposal under
sub-paragraph (8)(c), the trustees
may not use the publicly funded proceeds of disposal until the relevant
requirements in relation to each notice so given are
met.
(14) The
“relevant requirements” in relation to a notice given
under sub-paragraph (8)(b) are met if-
(a) the
relevant capital expenditure upon which the publicly funded proceeds of
disposal are to be used has been determined in accordance with
paragraph A17(2), or (b) the authority
have withdrawn notice of their objection to the proposed use of the
publicly funded proceeds of disposal in accordance with sub-paragraph
(10).
(14A) The
“relevant requirements” in relation to a notice given
under sub-paragraph (8)(c) are met if-
(a) the
“appropriate amount” has been determined in accordance
with paragraph A17(3), or (b) the
authority have withdrawn notice of their claim in accordance with
sub-paragraph
(10).”
Page
165, line 10, after “the” insert “publicly
funded”
Page
165, line 12, leave out from “used”,” to end of
line 19 and insert-
“( ) in
sub-paragraph (13)- (i) for
“proposed use of the publicly funded proceeds of
disposal” substitute “proposed purposes for which the
land is to be used”, and (ii) for
“use the publicly funded proceeds of disposal” substitute
“use the land for purposes not connected with the provision of
education in maintained schools”, and
( ) in sub-paragraph (14)-
(i) for “relevant capital expenditure upon which
the publicly funded proceeds of disposal are to be used has”
substitute “purposes for which the land is to be used
have”, and (ii) for
“proposed use of the publicly funded proceeds of
disposal” substitute “proposed purposes for which the
land is to be
used”.”
On
Question, amendments agreed
to.
[Amendment No. 130 not
moved.]
Lord
Adonis moved Amendments Nos. 130A to
130H:
Page 165, line
25, after second “the” insert “publicly
funded”
Page
165, line 27, leave out “the proceeds of disposal” and
insert “those
proceeds”
Page
165, line 36, after “the” insert “publicly
funded”
Page
165, line 37, leave out “the proceeds of disposal” and
insert “those
proceeds”
Page
166, line 5, after “the” insert “publicly
funded”
Page
166, line 7, leave out “the proceeds of disposal” and
insert “those proceeds”
18 July 2006 : Column 1250
Page 166, line 10,
leave out from beginning to end of line 15 and insert-
“A18 (1) This paragraph applies
where the disposal is made.
(1A) The trustees must notify the
authority that the disposal has been made and of the amount of the
proceeds of disposal.
(a) the authority gave notice of their
claim to the whole or a part of the publicly funded proceeds of
disposal in accordance with paragraph A16(8)(c), and
(b) the “appropriate amount” has been
determined in accordance with paragraph A17(3) to be an amount greater
than zero, the trustees or their
successors must pay the “appropriate amount” to the
authority.”
Page
166, line 16, at end insert “publicly
funded”
On
Question, amendments agreed
to.
[Amendment No. 131 not
moved.]
Lord
Adonis moved Amendments Nos. 131A to
131U:
Page 166, line
19, after “remaining” insert “publicly
funded”
Page
166, line 25, at end insert “publicly
funded”
Page
166, line 35, after “the” insert “publicly
funded”
Page
166, leave out line 37 and insert-
“( ) The “remaining
publicly funded proceeds of disposal” means the amount of the
publicly
funded”
Page
166, line 40, leave out from “A17(3),” to end of line
42.
Page
166, line 43, after “Sub-paragraphs” insert
“(1B),”
Page
166, line 43, leave out from “paragraph” to end
ofline 44 and insert “A16(13) (restriction on use of
publicly funded proceeds of disposal where notices given under
paragraph A16(8)(b) or
(c)).”
Page
167, line 1, leave out “(1)” and insert
“(1A)”
Page 167, line 3, after
““remaining” insert “publicly
funded”
Page
167, line 10, after “the” insert “publicly
funded”
Page
167, line 15, at end insert “publicly
funded”
Page
167, line 18, leave out from beginning to end of line 6 on page
169.
Page
169, line 6, at end insert-
“A20A(1) This paragraph applies
where-
(a) the authority gave notice of their
objection to the disposal in accordance with paragraph A16(8)(a),
and (b) the adjudicator has determined
that he does not approve the disposal.
(2) The trustees may apply to the
adjudicator for an order to be made by him requiring the land or any
part of the land to be transferred to such local authority as he may
specify subject to the payment by that authority of such sum by way of
consideration (if any) as he determines to be appropriate.
(3) Before making an application under
sub-paragraph (2), the trustees must give the local education authority
notice of their intention to make the
application.”
Page
169, line 25, after “reference” insert “or
application”
Page
169, line 26, leave out “A20” and insert
“A20A”
Page
169, line 27, after “determining” insert “the
publicly funded proceeds of disposal
or”
Page
169, line 27, leave out from “amount”” to
“in” in line
28.
Page
169, line 28, leave out “in accordance with” and insert
“for the purposes
of”
Page
169, line 30, leave out “on a reference made under” and
insert “for the purposes
of”
On
Question, amendments agreed
to.
[Amendment No. 132 not
moved.]
18 July 2006 : Column 1251
Lord
Adonis moved Amendments Nos. 132A to
132D:
Page 169, line
33, at end insert-
“(3)
In addition to having regard to guidance as required under
sub-paragraph (1)(b) or (2), a local education authority, a governing
body, a foundation body, trustees and the adjudicator, must also have
regard, in particular, to the factors mentioned in sub-paragraph (4) in
determining any of the following for the purposes of any of paragraphs
A2 to A20A-
(a) the publicly funded proceeds
of disposal; (b) the “appropriate
amount”; (c) the amount of the
consideration (if any) to be paid under paragraph A6A, A13A or
A20A.
(4) The factors
referred to in sub-paragraph (3) are-
(a) in
the case of any disposal, the value of the land as at the date of the
determination, (b) in the case of any
disposal, any enhancement in value of the land attributable to
expenditure on the land by the local education authority or a relevant
person, (c) in the case of any disposal,
any expenditure on the land by a relevant person,
(d) in the case of any disposal, any relevant payments
made by a relevant person to the local education authority or the
Secretary of State, (e) in the case of any
disposal, to the extent that they do not fall within paragraph (c) or
(d), any payments in respect of the acquisition of the land,
and (f) in the case of a disposal falling
within paragraph A1(1)(i), paragraph A8(1)(h) or paragraph A15(1)(h) or
(k), (2)(a)(iii) or (b), or (3)(a)(ii), the extent to which the
proceeds of disposal mentioned in the provision in question were
publicly funded proceeds of disposal as defined for the purposes of
paragraph A2, A9 or A16, as the case may be.
(5) A “relevant person”
means-
(a) in the case of a disposal to which
paragraph A2 or A16 applies, the governing body or the trustees of the
school in question, and (b) in the case of
a disposal to which paragraph A9 applies, the foundation body in
question.
(6) A
“relevant payment” means-
(a) in
the case of any disposal, a payment in respect of the current school
site or sites to which the land relates,
(b) in the case of any disposal, a payment under any of
the following provisions-
paragraph 2(6) of Schedule
3; paragraph 16(5) of
Schedule 6 (including that provision as applied by any
enactment); section
60(4) of the Education Act 1996;
paragraph 28(5) of Schedule 2 to the Education
and Inspections Act 2006 (including that provision as applied by any
enactment), and. (c) in the case
of a disposal of land falling within any of the following
provisions- paragraph A1(1)(f) or
(g); paragraph A8(1)(e)
or (f); paragraph
A15(1)(g), (i) or (j),.
a payment in respect of the grant
mentioned in the provision in question.
(7) The reference in sub-paragraph (5)(a)
to the governing body or the trustees of the school in question
includes-
(a) where the school was established
in pursuance of proposals published under section 28(2) or 28A(2), the
persons who published the proposals,
18 July 2006 : Column 1252
(b) where the school was established in pursuance of
proposals published under section 70 of the Education Act 2002 or
section 66 of the Education Act 2005 which were made by persons other
than a local education authority, the persons by whom the proposals
were made, and (c) where the school was
established in pursuance of proposals published under any of sections
7, 10 and 11 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006, any persons,
other than a local education authority, by whom the proposals were
treated for the purposes of Schedule 2 to that Act as having been
made.
(8) The reference in
sub-paragraph (5)(b) to the foundation body in question
includes-
(a) where the school or any of the
schools to which the land in question relates was established in
pursuance of proposals published under section 28(2) or 28A(2), the
persons who published the proposals, (b)
where the school or any of the schools to which the
land in question relates was established in pursuance of proposals
published under section 70 of the Education Act 2002 or section 66 of
the Education Act 2005 which were made by persons other than a local
education authority, the persons by whom the proposals were made,
and (c) where the school or any of the
schools to which the land in question relates was established in
pursuance of proposals published under any of sections 7, 10 and 11 of
the Education and Inspections Act 2006, any persons, other than a local
education authority, by whom the proposals were treated for the
purposes of Schedule 2 to that Act as having been
made.”
Page
169, line 47, at end insert-
“( ) In determining whether to
make a reference to the adjudicator under sub-paragraph (1)(a), a
relevant person must have regard, in particular, to any guidance given
from time to time by the Secretary of State.”
.
Page
169, line 47, at end insert-
“(3) An order made by the
adjudicator on an application under paragraph A6A, A13A or A20A may be
varied or revoked by a further order made by him if-
(a) an application for its variation or revocation is
made to him by an appropriate person in relation to the order,
and (b) before making the further order,
the adjudicator consults such persons as he considers
appropriate.
(4) An
“appropriate person” in relation to an order made under
paragraph A6A, A13A or A20A means-
(a) the
governing body, the foundation body or the trustees, as the case may
be, who applied for the order, (b) the
local education authority, or (c) if
different from that authority, the local authority to whom land is
required to be transferred under the order.
(5) In determining whether
to make an application to the adjudicator under sub-paragraph (3)(a),
an appropriate person must have regard, in particular, to any guidance
given from time to time by the Secretary of
State.”
Page
169, line 47, at end insert-
“( ) Paragraph A22 applies in
relation to the further determination by the adjudicator, by virtue of
sub-paragraph (1) or (3), of any matter for the purposes of any of
paragraphs A2 to A20A as it applies in relation to the original
determination of the
matter.”
On
Question, amendments agreed
to.
[Amendment No. 132E not
moved.]
18 July 2006 : Column 1253
Lord
Adonis moved Amendments Nos. 132F and
132G:
Page 173, line
5, at end insert-
“( )
In determining whether to make an application to the adjudicator under
sub-paragraph (13)(a), a relevant person must have regard, in
particular, to any guidance given from time to time by the Secretary of
State.
( ) Sub-paragraph (11)
applies in relation to the making of a further order by virtue of
sub-paragraph (13) as it applies in relation to the making of the
original transfer
order.”
Page
178, line 6, at end insert-
“( )
In sub-paragraph (1A)(b) for “falling
withinsection 21(1)(a)” substitute “established
otherwise than under this
Act”.”
On
Question, amendments agreed
to.
Lord
Adonis moved Amendments Nos. 133 to
136:
Page 182, line
31, leave out “falling within sub-paragraph (2)” and
insert “to which section 23A (requirements as to foundations)
applies”
Page
182, leave out lines 33 to
40.
Page
183, line 32, leave out
“and”
Page
183, line 34, at end insert “and for the purpose of
sub-paragraph (1) section 23A is to be taken to apply to the proposed
school if it would apply to the school when it is
established”
On
Question, amendments agreed
to.
Lord
Adonis moved Amendments Nos. 136A to
136E:
Page 183, line
40, leave out ““A26,”” and insert
““A6A, A13A, A20A,
A26,””
Page
184, line 14, at end insert-
“( ) In sub-paragraph (4) for the
words from “, either by agreement” to the end substitute
“-
(a) by agreement between the
authority and the relevant body, or (b) by
the adjudicator where- (i) the authority
or the relevant body refer the matter to him for determination,
and (ii) by the time of his determination,
the matter has not been determined by agreement between the authority
and the relevant
body.””
Page 184, line 14, at end
insert-
“( ) After
sub-paragraph (4) insert-
“(4A) In determining whether to
make a reference to the adjudicator under sub-paragraph (4)(b), the
authority or, as the case may be, the relevant body, must have regard,
in particular, to any guidance given from time to time by the Secretary
of State.
(4B) Before making a
reference to the adjudicator under sub-paragraph (4)(b), the authority
or, as the case may be, the relevant body, must give the other notice
of their intention to make the
reference.””
Page
184, line 14, at end insert-
“( ) In sub-paragraph
(5)-
(a) for “Secretary of
State” substitute “adjudicator”,
and (b) after “particular”
insert “to any guidance given from time to time by the Secretary
of State
and”.”
Page
184, line 14, at end insert-
“( ) After sub-paragraph (5)
insert-
“(5A) A
determination made by the adjudicator on a reference made to him under
sub-paragraph (4)(b) may be varied or revoked by a further
determination made by him if-
(a) the matter
is referred to him by the local education authority or the relevant
body, and
18 July 2006 : Column 1254
(b) before making the further determination, the
adjudicator consults such persons as he considers
appropriate.
(5B) In
determining whether to make a reference to the adjudicator under
sub-paragraph (5A)(a), the local education authority or the relevant
body must have regard, in particular, to any guidance given from time
to time by the Secretary of State.
(5C) Sub-paragraph (5) applies in
relation to the further determination of any matter by the adjudicator,
by virtue of sub-paragraph (5A), as it applies in relation to the
original determination of the
matter.””
On
Question, amendments agreed
to.
[Amendment No. 137 not
moved.]
Lord
Adonis moved Amendment No.
137A:
Page 186, line
7, leave out from “2,” to end of line 10 and insert
“in sub-paragraph (10), after “paragraphs” insert
“A1 to A18
or”.”
On
Question, amendment agreed
to.
Schedule 4, as amended,
agreed
to.
Baroness
Buscombe moved Amendment No.
138:
Before Clause
36, insert the following new clause-
“GOVERNING BODIES: DETERMINATION
OF POLICY WITH RESPECT TO YOUNG CARERS
(1) The governing body of a maintained
school must ensure that policies designed to ensure the identification
of young carers and to promote their welfare are pursued at the
school.
(2) A person is a
young carer for the purposes of this section if-
(a) he assumes a level of responsibility for another
person which would normally be assumed by an adult,
(b) he is a registered pupil at the
school.”
The noble Baroness said: This is a probing
amendment. We would like to see the Government further considering
young carers’ welfare. Like looked after children, children who
take on a caring role in the family are pupils who are at particular
risk of not receiving sufficient support from the education system.
About 3 million children in the UK are affected by disability in their
families and 175,000 of them become young carers. It is estimated that
the majority of young carers remain unidentified. We must ensure that
these children are identified and offered the best support so that they
can achieve their
potential.
Amendment
No. 142—proposed by the noble Baroness, Lady Massey, and
supported by the noble Baroness, Lady Walmsley—which attempts to
address the issue, is unsatisfactory. It is far too prescriptive and
would unnecessarily restrict the freedom and autonomy of our schools.
Our amendment will enable each school to develop a policy suited to its
circumstances, ensuring that young carers are identified and their
welfare promoted. It is drafted along the same lines as the discipline
provisions. There is no substantive relation, but it seemed appropriate
that a governing body would take a special interest in the welfare of
young carers, and develop a policy suited to their particular school.
That can be achieved without hindering the school’s powers and
freedoms to run their own affairs, and would offer each school the
opportunity to safeguard the welfare of their own pupils.
18 July 2006 : Column 1255
I look forward to the Minister’s
response on this important matter. I am sure that many schools already
take an interest in young carers, but it is important to emphasise that
the amendment is not intended to create an index of young carers for
all to see. I am well aware that many young carers may not wish to be
identified in front of their classmates, or share their home situation.
Their privacy should be respected. That message is terribly important.
The aim of the amendment is to improve the support given to young
carers, not to expose their personal lives to unwanted scrutiny. I beg
to move.
Baroness
Massey of Darwen: I shall speak to Amendment No.
142. I am not sure that the noble Baroness, Lady Buscombe, and I are
all that far apart. I welcome the desire to help and support children
in care in the Bill. I tabled Amendment No. 142 because young carers
also deserve a better deal.
I
have recently met many young carers and listened to their problems. I
am grateful to the Princess Royal Trust for Carers and other support
groups for supplying me with further information. A huge and recurring
issue is that of schools not knowing that they have young carers, and
having no policy or person in charge to cope with their needs. There is
no need to identify them in front of their classmates, but people need
to know that there is a problem, just like any other welfare
problem.
Some young carers are
caring for a parent with a physical or mental disability, or for a
sibling. In both cases, they may find themselves late for school,
unable to do homework on time or, sadly, missing school. I shall
briefly illustrate my points. As the noble Baroness, Lady Buscombe,
said, there are around 175,000 carers in the UK. Of these, 13,000 care
for people for more than 50 hours a week. That is surely enough young
people to mean that every local authority should have a young carer
strategy as part of their children and young people’s plan.
Young people’s health is often badly affected by caring through
the night, having to lift a heavy adult and feeling isolated. These
young people are often going through adolescence, and have the same
emotional needs as others. Many suffer the additional trauma of
bereavement, family break-up, loss of income or housing, and seeing the
effects of illness or substance misuse in the family.
I am focusing on educational needs, but
these needs go beyond education; a good reason for children’s
services which link together to support the young person. Education is
a big concern when we are looking at people missing school altogether.
One child said:
“I missed
a lot of school because he wasn’t well. I didn’t like
leaving him in case he fell over and he couldn’t reach a phone
or pull the cords ... I went to school twice a week, and that was
it”.
The DfES guidance
and advice for schools and local authorities states:
“Young carers should not be
expected to carry inappropriate levels of caring which have an adverse
impact on their development and life chances. However, there are
children and young people who undertake caring roles ... there may
be up to 30 young carers in a secondary school”.
