§ Mr. Ieuan Wyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to impose a statutory obligation on local authorities to develop youth services.
§ Mr. BoswellLocal education authorities already have a duty under section 41 of the Education Act 1944 as substituted by section 11 of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 to secure provision for further education. Further education is defined as including vocational training, social physical and recreational training and organised leisure time occupation. Section 53 of the 1944 Act also provides that the facilities provided by an LEA for primary, secondary and further education must include adequate faclities for recreation, social and physical training.
These provisions cover the youth service and it is for individual authorities to decide how they fulfil their duty.