Technical and Further Education Bill — House of Commons, 2017-01-09
Topic: Education
Gordon Marsden (Labour, Centre-left): I thank all those who have spoken. I particularly thank the Minister for confirming that the implications of what we asked for in new clause 2 will be satisfied by the Government, which is an important concession or confirmation, depending on how he wishes to look at it. Whatever it is, we thank him for it I will withdraw new clause 1 but, as shown not least by the powerful speeches by my hon. Friends the Members for Gedling (Vernon Coaker) and for Batley and Spen (Tracy Brabin) and others, it is a huge missed opportunity that the Government are not including the strategy in the Bill. I mean no disrespect to the Minister and his personal qualities, but we believe that the strategy needs to be embodied for the foreseeable future in the Bill. On that basis, we will be pressing new clause 4 to a vote I beg to ask leave to withdraw the clause Clause, by leave, withdrawn. New Clause 4 Careers education: duty to publish strategy "‘(1) The Secretary of State shall publish a strategy for the purposes of improving careers education for persons receiving education or training— (a) in the course of an approved English apprenticeship; (b) for the purposes of an approved technical education qualification; or (c) for the purposes of approved steps towards occupational competence (2) The strategy shall be laid before Parliament (3) The strategy shall specify provisions under which the Secretary of State will seek to— (a) ensure that persons receiving education or training under subsection (1) receive information, advice and guidance relating to their future careers, and that such information, advice and guidance is delivered in a way which meets each person’s needs and is impartial; (b) ensure that such information, advice and guidance may be taken into account by relevant authorities and partners to meet the needs of local or combined authority areas; (c) ensure parity of esteem between technical, further and higher education; and (d) monitor the outcomes of such information, advice and guidance for recipients (4) The provisions specified in subsection (3) shall have specific regard to particular needs of different groups of persons receiving education or training under subsection (1), including— (a) persons with special educational needs; (b) care leavers; (c) persons of different ethnicities; (d) carers, carers of children, or young carers, as defined by the Care Act 2014; and (e) persons who have other particular needs that may be determined by the Secretary of State (5) The strategy shall include guidance for the purposes of improving careers education, to which the following bodies shall have regard— (a) the Office for Standards in Education, Children‘s Services and Skills; (b) the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education; and (c) the Office for Students (6) The Secretary of State shall by regulations designate relevant authorities and partners for the purposes of subsection (3)(b) (7) The Secretary of State may by regulations designate— (a) further groups of persons under subsection (4)(e); and (b) further national authorities or bodies under subsection (5) (8) Regulations made under this section— (a) shall be made by statutory instrument; and (b) may not be made unless a draft has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament (9) For the purposes of this section, "careers education" means education about different careers and occupations and potential courses or qualifications to attain those careers and occupations.’" —(Gordon Marsden.) This new clause would establish a statutory requirement for the Government to produce a strategy on careers education, which shall be taken to be the "Careers Strategy". Brought up, and read the First time. Question put, That the clause be read a Second time.