Clause 17
Further Education and Training Bill [Lords]
6:00 pm
John Hayes (Shadow Minister (Vocational Education), Education; South Holland and The Deepings, Conservative)
The Committee will know from my earlier remarks how enthusiastically I support further education colleges. In that context, I give my warm support to this part of the Bill, with the important qualifications that were made from across the Committee about the need to ensure rigour, progression, partnership and so on. In that spirit, I speak with some concern about franchising.
The hon. Member for Brent, East has made a persuasive case for ensuring that we keep close control of the process in its early stages. The Minister has made it clear that, through a combination of the QAA and his Department, the necessary safeguards will be put in place to deal with some of the points that the universities and members of the Committee have made. I am concerned by the impact that franchising would have on the capacity to ensure those safeguards, although I see why the Minister might take a different view. I do not want to anticipate his every word, but I understand that he is fearful that making one setof rules for colleges and a different set for other institutions might establish what the hon. Lady has described as a two-tier structure.
We have acknowledged that this is a bold measure that will require a proper degree of caution from all concerned, and we have accepted that it is a probationary measure. As it moves ahead, the colleges that handle the matter in the way in which we expect will acquire additional powers. We know that a small number of colleges are likely to be involved at the outset, which the Minister has acknowledged both publicly and privately. It does not seem unreasonable to say that if a small number are involved, the best way of maintaining rigour, quality and progression is not to let that number burgeon through franchising. Being kind to Liberals is always difficult for me, but I think that the hon. Lady has done a service to the Committee in tabling the amendments and allowing this debate on an important aspect of this part of the Bill. Unless the Minister can offer strong assurances, I would be inclined to support the hon. Lady, were she to press the matter.