Schedule 3
6:45 pm
Jim Knight (Minister of State (Schools and Learners), Department for Children, Schools and Families; South Dorset, Labour)
I said that they are largely technical in nature, but also that they ensure a strong line of accountability. They are important, otherwise we would not make them, but they are sufficiently technical to allow me to be brief.
Having said that, I shall say a little more about amendment 121, tabled by the hon. Gentleman. I think that I understand the intention behind the amendment, but provision has been made for the matter that it deals with elsewhere in the Bill. In the White Paper, we made the commitment that the YPLA will be a sector-led body, the governance of which will include representatives of key delivery partners. Paragraph 2(5) of schedule 3 states:
“In appointing a person as a member, the Secretary of State or the YPLA must have regard to the desirability of appointing a person who has experience relevant to any of the YPLA’s functions.”
That would include representations from further education and sixth-form colleges, and other relevant organisations, such as local authorities and academies, in respect of the various functions that the YPLA will perform. As the board will have between five and 15 members, there is ample flexibility to ensure that key partners have a place at the table. However, our priority must be to ensure that we have the right calibre of board members, not to set quotas from particular sectors.