Clause 53
6:00 pm
Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset and North Poole, Liberal Democrat)
I shall be brief on these points. New clause 3 relates to complaints about transport arrangements, and the Minister has already alluded to the fact that there is a system within the Bill. We welcome the improved route of appeal for young people of sixth-form age and their parents on local authority transport arrangements. However, since local authorities have a duty to provide transport where necessary for learners with learning difficulties or disabilities up to the age of 25, we feel that those students should have the same right of redress. Therefore, I ask the Minister to give that serious consideration.
New clause 4 suggests that the Secretary of State may intervene. The Bill seeks to strengthen existing duties on local authorities, but colleges have genuine concerns that some local authorities have not been fulfilling their statutory duties to produce appropriate transport plans. As a backstop, the power to review any arrangements for transport would ensure that they are effectively planned and, most importantly, implemented, so that the whole scheme works to the advantage of our young people.