Education and Skills Bill

Part of the debate – in a Public Bill Committee at 10:58 am on 22 January 2008.

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Photo of David Laws David Laws Shadow Secretary of State (Children, Schools and Families) 10:58, 22 January 2008

May I return to a point that you raised earlier to ensure that I understand your view on it? You were talking about the very high-need youngsters, who might have health, drug or alcohol problems. I think that you were suggesting that it might be difficult for them to engage in the education and training opportunities that the Government want them to have between 16 and 18 on a compulsory basis, before sorting those problems out. First, have I got that right, and secondly, if that is a legitimate concern—returning to Sarah McCarthy-Fry’s point—is it better, in your view, to amend the Bill to make the obligation one that is not focused just on education and training but could be about sorting out those problems before allowing young people to take up an education and training entitlement? Or do you think that does not really add much and we should just focus on putting more money and backing behind the services that will deal with those problems for the minority of youngsters who will have those very severe social, health and other problems?