§ (" .—(1) In sections (Provision of services) to (Conduct and effect of inspections)—
- "local authority" means a county council or a county borough council,
- "Health Authority" has the meaning given by section 8 of the National Health Service Act 1977,
- "parent", in relation to a child, means a person who has parental responsibility for him within the meaning of section 3 of the Children Act 1989,
- "probation committee" means a committee established under section 3 of the Probation Service Act 1993,
- "police authority" has the meaning given by section 101 of the Police Act 1996,
- "young person" has the meaning given by section (Provision of services)(3),
- "youth offending team" means a team established under section 39 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, and
- "youth support services" has the meaning given by section (Provision of services)(2).
§ (2) The power under section (Provision of services) shall not relate to services which are provided or to be provided outside Wales.")
§ Baroness Farrington of RibbletonMy Lords, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendments Nos. 155 to 161. In moving these amendments, I shall speak also to Amendment No.169.
Perhaps I may begin by setting out the background to these amendments. The new clauses that they insert into the Bill on youth support services for 11 to 25 year-olds in Wales flow from our consultative Green Paper, Learning is for Everyone, which was published in April 1998, and consideration of youth issues by the National Assembly.
The new clauses prepare the ground for the Assembly to introduce a distinctive Wales approach to support services for young people in partnership with Welsh local authorities and in co-operation with the voluntary sector, and others. They will enable the National Assembly, in consultation with local authorities and others, to introduce measures aimed 830 at: supporting young people in the transition to adulthood and independence, so that they maximise their potential as individuals and as members of groups and communities; encouraging young people of compulsory school age to remain in education or training and encouraging people up to the age of 25 to remain in, or return to, education or training; providing young people with information and counselling services and co-ordinating other support services; identifying disaffected, disengaged and socially excluded young people, meeting their needs for support and bringing them into or back into education and training; and preventing offending and other risk-taking behaviour by young people in co-operation with organisations that have specific responsibility in those fields.
The amendments will strengthen and improve the statutory basis for youth support services and underpin National Assembly initiatives aimed at enhancing services for children and young people in Wales. They have been warmly received by the Welsh Grand Committee. They represent good news for Wales and are a clear and potent example of devolution in action. The amendments demonstrate how effectively the National Assembly, the Wales Office and UK government Ministers work together, with common purpose, in the best interests of Wales.
In commending these amendments to the House, perhaps I may point out that I did note the concern raised by the noble Lord, Lord Roberts. I take his point about the period of time that it took to ensure, so close to the enactment of devolution, the appropriate circumstances for meeting in full the needs determined by Welsh people for people in Wales. I thank the noble Lord for his patience and hope that we now have his support.
Moved, That the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendments Nos. 155 to 161.—(Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton.)
On Question, Motion agreed to.