My Lords, I refer to my interests, as listed in the register.

It is welcome that the Government have referred to social care in the gracious Speech. However, adult social care is in crisis and has been for a number of years. The issues of cost and funding will only get...

My Lords, I refer to my interests, as listed in the register.

It is welcome that the Government have referred to social care in the gracious Speech. However, adult social care is in crisis and has been for a number of years. The issues of cost and funding will only get...

My Lords, we are enormously grateful to my noble friend Lady Shephard for introducing this most timely and crucial debate, and I congratulate all noble Lords on their excellent contributions today. My noble friend, as always, put forward in her measured and informed way the real problems that face both...

My Lords, we are enormously grateful to my noble friend Lady Shephard for introducing this most timely and crucial debate, and I congratulate all noble Lords on their excellent contributions today. My noble friend, as always, put forward in her measured and informed way the real problems that face both...

Lords debate on motion to call attention to the significance for society and the economy of policies to provide and support teaching excellence in schools, colleges and universities. Motion withdrawn.

Lords debate on motion to call attention to the significance for society and the economy of policies to provide and support teaching excellence in schools, colleges and universities. Motion withdrawn.

My Lords, I join noble Lords in congratulating my noble friend Lord Baker of Dorking on giving us this opportunity to take stock of the cuts and the uncertainty that they have caused among students, universities and colleges and to discuss their consequences. Much of what needs to be said...

My Lords, I join noble Lords in congratulating my noble friend Lord Baker of Dorking on giving us this opportunity to take stock of the cuts and the uncertainty that they have caused among students, universities and colleges and to discuss their consequences. Much of what needs to be said...

My Lords, following on from the noble Baroness, Lady Walmsley, we also wish to raise some points on the single funding formula. In February 2006, the Government introduced the code of practice which meant that there would be provision of free nursery education places for three- and four-year-olds. At the...

My Lords, following on from the noble Baroness, Lady Walmsley, we also wish to raise some points on the single funding formula. In February 2006, the Government introduced the code of practice which meant that there would be provision of free nursery education places for three- and four-year-olds. At the...

My Lords, I thank the noble Baronesses, Lady Garden and Lady Howe, for their contributions and for their support for some of my amendments. It is crucial that there is a choice for parents and children, and that local needs are at the heart of provision. I thank the Minister...

My Lords, I thank the noble Baronesses, Lady Garden and Lady Howe, for their contributions and for their support for some of my amendments. It is crucial that there is a choice for parents and children, and that local needs are at the heart of provision. I thank the Minister...

202: Clause 193, page 112, line 24, at end insert— "( ) A local authority may not provide early childhood services unless the local authority is satisfied— (a) that no other person is willing to provide the early childhood services (whether in pursuance of arrangements made with the authority or...

202: Clause 193, page 112, line 24, at end insert— "( ) A local authority may not provide early childhood services unless the local authority is satisfied— (a) that no other person is willing to provide the early childhood services (whether in pursuance of arrangements made with the authority or...

My Lords, I shall keep my comments brief on this topic. We support the intentions of the noble Baroness, Lady Walmsley. As she said, the clauses in the Bill enable the Secretary of State to set statutory targets for children’s services authorities in England for safeguarding and promoting the welfare...

My Lords, I shall keep my comments brief on this topic. We support the intentions of the noble Baroness, Lady Walmsley. As she said, the clauses in the Bill enable the Secretary of State to set statutory targets for children’s services authorities in England for safeguarding and promoting the welfare...

My Lords, this clause inserts new provisions into Part 1 of the Childcare Act 2006 which imposes duties on English local authorities and others to secure sufficient provision of children’s centres to meet local need. We very much support Sure Start children’s centres which fulfil a fundamentally important role in...

My Lords, this clause inserts new provisions into Part 1 of the Childcare Act 2006 which imposes duties on English local authorities and others to secure sufficient provision of children’s centres to meet local need. We very much support Sure Start children’s centres which fulfil a fundamentally important role in...

191: Clause 188, page 106, line 16, leave out "or Academy"

191: Clause 188, page 106, line 16, leave out "or Academy"

I shall address my remarks to Amendments 191 and 193, which we raised in Committee. They are designed, once again, to raise our concerns regarding the imposition on the autonomy and independence of academy schools. We have raised this issue again because the response from the Minister in our last...

I shall address my remarks to Amendments 191 and 193, which we raised in Committee. They are designed, once again, to raise our concerns regarding the imposition on the autonomy and independence of academy schools. We have raised this issue again because the response from the Minister in our last...

My Lords, I thank the Minister and the noble Baroness, Lady Walmsley. I am sure that they will both agree that academies most likely will want to be partners. I still feel slightly concerned that it will be a duty rather than their right to do it. However, the Minister...

My Lords, I thank the Minister and the noble Baroness, Lady Walmsley. I am sure that they will both agree that academies most likely will want to be partners. I still feel slightly concerned that it will be a duty rather than their right to do it. However, the Minister...

My Lords, we return to issues that we covered in Committee. I hope that the Minister will feel able to offer some further response, as we remain very concerned about them. Our amendments in this group are designed to restrict the complaints that can be brought against a school and...

My Lords, we return to issues that we covered in Committee. I hope that the Minister will feel able to offer some further response, as we remain very concerned about them. Our amendments in this group are designed to restrict the complaints that can be brought against a school and...

I am sorry, but may I have some clarification of where the board of governors comes in all that conversation?

I am sorry, but may I have some clarification of where the board of governors comes in all that conversation?

The Minister said that if parents and children felt that the school was not responding to their complaints, they would have the local commission. I accept that, but I need to know where the board of governors is because the pupils and parents will, surely, still have redress from it.

The Minister said that if parents and children felt that the school was not responding to their complaints, they would have the local commission. I accept that, but I need to know where the board of governors is because the pupils and parents will, surely, still have redress from it.

The noble Baroness referred to parents and pupils feeling that they had no redress at the school. I would like to know where the board of governors comes in that conversation.

The noble Baroness referred to parents and pupils feeling that they had no redress at the school. I would like to know where the board of governors comes in that conversation.

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for her response. The Minister has offered some reassurances that the schools already have powers to search, but at this late hour, it would be prudent to read Hansard tomorrow. Therefore, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment 213 withdrawn. Amendments 213A...

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for her response. The Minister has offered some reassurances that the schools already have powers to search, but at this late hour, it would be prudent to read Hansard tomorrow. Therefore, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment 213 withdrawn. Amendments 213A...

My Lords, we support the amendments of the noble Baroness, Lady Walmsley. We agree with the intentions behind them and hope that the Minister will see sense in them. We understand the necessity for recording and reporting the use of force, as parents have a right to know what is...

My Lords, we support the amendments of the noble Baroness, Lady Walmsley. We agree with the intentions behind them and hope that the Minister will see sense in them. We understand the necessity for recording and reporting the use of force, as parents have a right to know what is...

213: Clause 237, page 142, line 26, at end insert "but does not include property such as lockers and desks, which may be searched without the presence of P"

213: Clause 237, page 142, line 26, at end insert "but does not include property such as lockers and desks, which may be searched without the presence of P"

My Lords, we have tabled these amendments to continue in our quest to ensure that teachers are given the power, professional judgment and discretion that they need to enforce discipline in schools; and so allow maximum emphasis to be given to the most important part of their job—teaching. We tabled...

My Lords, we have tabled these amendments to continue in our quest to ensure that teachers are given the power, professional judgment and discretion that they need to enforce discipline in schools; and so allow maximum emphasis to be given to the most important part of their job—teaching. We tabled...