Clause 70
9:15 am
Jim Knight (Minister of State (Schools and Learners), Department for Children, Schools and Families; South Dorset, Labour)
Naturally, I am grateful for the opportunity to provide some of that clarity. The clause requires the YPLA to prepare and consult on a policy statement that sets out the detail of its policy on its powers of intervention. The YPLA has powers of intervention under clause 64, which we discussed on Tuesday. It may give directions to a local authority where it is satisfied that the authority is failing or is likely to fail to perform its duty under proposed new section 15ZA(1) of the Education Act 1996, as set out in clause 56.
In proposed new section 56H of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992, which is inserted by schedule 8, there is power for the YPLA to intervene in a sixth-form college at which it is securing the provision of education. The intervention policy, which is what will be consulted on, will set out the triggers for, and the nature of, the intervention, the nature of any directions the YPLA may issue to local authorities under clause 64 and the circumstances when directions will be issued. The duty to prepare an intervention policy will ensure that there is clarity and transparency in advance on the circumstances under which those powers will be used so that there is proper consultation with stakeholders.
Relevant stakeholders will include local authorities, education and training providers, supporting structures, Government offices, regional planning groups and sub-regional planning groups. The measure ensures that the policy is drawn up in consultation with those in advance of it being used so that everybody understands the circumstances anywhere in the country when the YPLA might use the range of intervention powers that we have agreed in the Bill. When there is a trigger point, it can then be applied as quickly as possible. We bow to no one in our intolerance of failure in the system and the desire to intervene. The consultation will be guided by the Cabinet Office, and the normal guidelines for that are a 12-week consultation. It will be with those partners that I have set out.