HL Deb 15 April 1981 vol 419 cc981-2

11.22 a.m.

Baroness David

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government when the Joint DES-LEA Further Education Legal Basis Working Group is to report.

The Minister of State, Department of Education and Science (Baroness Young)

My Lords, the group of officials from the education departments and the local education authorities should be ready by the early summer to submit their report to my right honourable friends the Secretaries of State for Education and Science and for Wales and to the local authority associations respectively.

Baroness David

My Lords, may I thank the Minister for that Answer? May I ask what consultations there have been with the professional associations, with the voluntary organisations and with the Advisory Council for Adult and Continuing Education? They seem to feel that there has not been adequate consultation. If there has not, will there be in the future, before the report is available?

Baroness Young

My Lords, I should like to clear up any misunderstanding on this point. I should like to give an assurance that there will be full consultation on the publication of the report.

Baroness David

My Lords, may I ask the Minister whether there will be consultation before the report comes out? It seems to me that that is important.

Baroness Young

My Lords, the working party is a group of officials from the DES, the Welsh Office and the local authority associations. I have no doubt that they will consult as they regard it to be appropriate. What we think is important—because there is a certain urgency about this matter—is that, after they have produced their report there should be the widest possible consultation before any further action is taken.

Baroness David

My Lords, may I ask one last supplementary question? Will the adult side be consulted as much as the youth side?

Baroness Young

Yes, my Lords.