HL Deb 30 October 1986 vol 481 cc859-60

96 Clause 50, page 52, line 8, after "is", insert "a student of the institution or is. 97 Page 52, line 9, at end insert—???quote> ?quote>"(2) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision restricting—

  1. (a) in relation to such matters or classes of matter as may be prescribed;
  2. (b) in such circumstances as may be prescribed; and
  3. (c) to such extent as may be prescribed;
the participation of any student of such an institution who is a member of its governng body in the proceedings of that body. (3) The instrument of government for any such institution may make such provision in relation to restricting the participation of any such student in the proceedings of its governing body (in addition to that made by the regulations) as the regulations may authorise.".

Baroness Hooper

My Lords, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendments Nos. 96 and 97. These amendments allow students at further education colleges who are minors to be governors, but to provide for their withdrawal from the discussion of matters as described in regulations or in the instrument of government for the college.

As a result of representations made by tertiary college principals and governors, the Government conceded this extension at Committee stage in another place, and moved the amendments at Report stage. It may be suggested that there is an anomaly between allowing student governors at tertiary colleges and not pupil governors at sixth form colleges. In tertiary colleges, students are by definition either adults or on the threshold of adulthood and are in a more adult environment. It is common ground that student governors should not be party to all of the governors' business and the regulations will ensure that certain items of business will he reserved from such under-age governors.

Moved, That this House do agree with the Commons in the said amendments.—(Baroness Hooper.)

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

My Lords, it certainly is suggested that there is an anomaly between the treatment of tertiary colleges and sixth form colleges. I have never heard a more feeble brief read better in this House in all the time I have been here. The point that was made, not only in another place but here, was that not only in sixth form colleges but in schools there have been many successful examples of pupil governors taking an active part in governing bodies, but withdrawing without any embarassment or difficulty from those parts of the agenda with which they should not be concerned. It is disappointing that the Government have not recognised the full force of those arguments, and moved a more widely worded amendment.

On Question, Motion agreed to.