§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the relationship is between the Learning and Skills Council and local authorities in the provision of post-16 education, with particular reference to(a) North Yorkshire county council and (b) City of York council. [8152]
§ Margaret HodgeLocal authorities are key partners of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). A local LSC must prepare a plan for each of its financial years, and, in so doing, must consult the local authorities (including local education authorities) within its area. The local LSC must also have regard to the local authorities' strategies for the promotion of economic, social and environmental well-being. Local LSCs must also have members who understand the needs of local communities through local authority experience, either as elected members or in an official capacity. In most cases both local authority members and officials already sit on local LSC boards.
Each local LSC is responsible for approving the Adult Learning Plans provided by each local authority. These are then subject to national moderation. These Plans outline what each local authority will do with the funding provided by the local LSC in the provision of vocational and non-vocational education and training in the local area.
Local LSCs will, from April 2002, be responsible for funding local education authorities for their sixth-form provision, including new LEA-maintained 16 to 19 institutions. Those funds must be passed on to the relevant schools in full.
I can confirm that these arrangements apply to the North Yorkshire Learning and Skills Council in its relationships with the North Yorkshire county council and the York city council.