HC Deb 08 December 2003 vol 415 cc289-90W
Mr. Drew

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will publish the protocol for the reorganisation of post-16 education with specific reference to the responsibilities held by(a) local education authorities and (b) local learning and skills commissions. [142309]

Mr. Miliband

We have no plans to publish a protocol for the reorganisation of sixth form education, with specific reference to the responsibilities held by Local Education Authorities and local Learning and Skills Councils.

Section 113A of the Learning and Skills Act 2000 as inserted by section 72 of the Education Act 2002, gave the Learning Skills Council powers from 1 April 2003 to re-organise sixth form provision in schools—including powers to make proposals to establish, alter or discontinue school sixth forms and 16–19 schools. Local LSCs can propose re-organisation following recommendations in an Ofsted Area Inspection Report or where they can demonstrate that the proposals will improve participation, raise standards or broaden the range of provision. The Secretary of State will decide on LSC re-organisation proposals.

LEAs have powers under sections 28 and 29 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 to publish statutory proposals to change 16–19 provision in schools. They can publish proposals to establish or discontinue secondary schools with sixth forms and 16–19 schools, and to alter provision in a school—for example by the addition or closure of a sixth form. LEAs may implement their proposals if there are no objections, otherwise the proposals will be decided locally by the School Organisation Committee for the area or an independent Adjudicator if the Committee cannot agree.

Should an LEA publish proposals that impact on final re-organisation proposals as published by the LSC, a decision on the LEA proposals will be deferred pending the Secretary of State's decision on the LSC proposals.

Mr. Drew

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions he has had with(a)Gloucestershire Local Education Authority and (b) Gloucestershire Learning and Skills Commission on the review of post-16 education. [142310]

Mr. Miliband

The Secretary of State has had no discussions with Gloucester local education authority or Gloucestershire Learning and Skills Council about the review of post-16 education in Gloucestershire.