To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her department plans to provide Local Authorities with extra funding to support training of social workers and council workers to improve understanding of home education.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her department plans to provide Local Authorities with extra funding to support training of social workers and council workers to improve understanding of home education.

New clauses considered. New clause 21 (School attendance: general duties of local authorities) discussed with new clause 22 (School attendance policies) and new clause 24 (Academies: regulations as to granting a leave of absence). NC 21 withdrawn. New clause 25 (Report on the impact of charging VAT on private school fees) withdrawn. New clause 30 (Publication of details of preventative care and family support) discussed with new clause 72 (Duty on local authorities to provide family support services). NC 30 withdrawn. New clause 31 (Eligibility for free school lunches) negatived on division (3 to 10). New clause 31 (duty of school governing bodies regarding mental health provision) negatived on division (3 to 10). New clause 34 (National tutoring guarantee) withdrawn. New clause 36 (Establishment of a national body for SEND) negatived on division (3 to 10). New clause 37 (Arrangements for national examinations for children not in school) withdrawn. New clause 38 (Consultation on the structures of governance for local authority and academy schools) withdrawn. New clause 39 (Establishment of a Child Protection Authority) negatived on division (3 to 10). New clause 42 (Establishment of national wellbeing measurement programme) negatived on division (3 to 10). New clause 48 (Ban on mobile phones and other devices in schools) negatived on division (6 to 10). New clause 49 (Report on behaviour in schools) discussed with new clause 70 (Appointment of anti-bullying leads). NC 49 withdrawn. New clause 51 (Duty for schools to report acts of violence against staff to the police) negatived on division (6 to 10). New clause 55 (Independent review in relation to orders under section 87(3)(B) of the Education Act 2002) withdrawn. New clause 58 (Right to review school curriculum material) negatived on division (3 to 10). New clause 59 (Kinship care leave) discussed with new clause 60 (Kinship care allowance), new clause 61 (Extension of pupil premium to children subject to a kinship care arrangement) and new clause 62 (Admissions arrangements relating to looked after children and children in kinship care). NC 59 withdrawn. New clause 60 negatived on division (3 to 10). New clause 63 (Exemption from education legislation for the purpose of raising educational standards) withdrawn. New clause 64 (Pay and conditions of school support staff in England) withdrawn. New clause 67 (Registration of children eligible for free school meals) negatived on division (3 to 10). New clause 68 (Guidance on the admission on summer-born children with EHC plans) discussed with new clause 69 (Collection and publication of data relating to summer-born children). NC 68 withdrawn. New schedule 1 (Pay and conditions of academy teachers: amendments to the Education Act 2002) agreed to. Bill as amended, to be reported. Written evidence reported to the House.

New clauses considered. New clause 21 (School attendance: general duties of local authorities) discussed with new clause 22 (School attendance policies) and new clause 24 (Academies: regulations as to granting a leave of absence). NC 21 withdrawn. New clause 25 (Report on the impact of charging VAT on private school...

This has been an important debate. In responding, I will have the opportunity to put on the record and try to allay some of the fears of most noble Lords who have spoken, with the exception of the noble Lord, Lord Skelmersdale, the noble Baronesses, Lady Turner, Lady Meacher and...

This has been an important debate. In responding, I will have the opportunity to put on the record and try to allay some of the fears of most noble Lords who have spoken, with the exception of the noble Lord, Lord Skelmersdale, the noble Baronesses, Lady Turner, Lady Meacher and...

I understand that not unreasonable point. We need to see where the carers’ strategy is heading. It is fair to say that people may be switched off from claiming just by the title, but I am sure that there are ways in which we can address that. On balance, we...

I understand that not unreasonable point. We need to see where the carers’ strategy is heading. It is fair to say that people may be switched off from claiming just by the title, but I am sure that there are ways in which we can address that. On balance, we...

I am not sure whether the noble Baroness, Lady Meacher, intended the amendment to be a precursor to our debates very shortly—perhaps not that shortly—on drug and alcohol abuse. However, I take the view that even if the amendment covers that situation, it is unintentional and she wants to stick...

I am not sure whether the noble Baroness, Lady Meacher, intended the amendment to be a precursor to our debates very shortly—perhaps not that shortly—on drug and alcohol abuse. However, I take the view that even if the amendment covers that situation, it is unintentional and she wants to stick...

Will the noble Lord consider a straightforward example? A plumber with osteoarthritis of the knee can no longer work as a plumber because of deterioration, but can really be cured only by having a knee replacement. For all kinds of other reasons, he may have decided that a knee replacement...

Will the noble Lord consider a straightforward example? A plumber with osteoarthritis of the knee can no longer work as a plumber because of deterioration, but can really be cured only by having a knee replacement. For all kinds of other reasons, he may have decided that a knee replacement...

No, we do not.

No, we do not.

The Minister probably cannot tell me now—I suspect that this has still to be determined, so he would not be in a position to do so—but would he write giving me some details? He mentioned 10 to 12 pathfinders. What proportion of lone parents will be encompassed within those pathfinders?...

The Minister probably cannot tell me now—I suspect that this has still to be determined, so he would not be in a position to do so—but would he write giving me some details? He mentioned 10 to 12 pathfinders. What proportion of lone parents will be encompassed within those pathfinders?...

I think perhaps I have explained myself rather badly. I am interested not in the result of the pathfinders but in the effect on the individual who has been working for six months of the two years, say, or even the full two years. When she comes to the end...

I think perhaps I have explained myself rather badly. I am interested not in the result of the pathfinders but in the effect on the individual who has been working for six months of the two years, say, or even the full two years. When she comes to the end...

I strongly support the amendment, particularly because it raises a fundamental principle: do we or do we not believe that parents are responsible for procuring or providing the education for their child? I also support it because it is a specific example of the general principle enshrined in the amendment...

I strongly support the amendment, particularly because it raises a fundamental principle: do we or do we not believe that parents are responsible for procuring or providing the education for their child? I also support it because it is a specific example of the general principle enshrined in the amendment...

My amendment coming after that of the noble Baroness, Lady Hollis, must seem terribly badly drafted, and indeed, it is. This is strange territory for me. Education is where home educators and I belong. I have drifted into this because of the Badman review and how home education is being...

My amendment coming after that of the noble Baroness, Lady Hollis, must seem terribly badly drafted, and indeed, it is. This is strange territory for me. Education is where home educators and I belong. I have drifted into this because of the Badman review and how home education is being...

So that would be about one-third or so of the total eligible lone parent population. I would be grateful if my noble friend could write with the details but, in the light of that, I shall reflect on what he has said and see whether there is any way in...

So that would be about one-third or so of the total eligible lone parent population. I would be grateful if my noble friend could write with the details but, in the light of that, I shall reflect on what he has said and see whether there is any way in...

I rise to dip my toe into the Welfare Reform Bill in front of my far more experienced Peers, but that is the lot of the lowly Whip. We have had a good, wide-ranging and useful debate on the amendment tabled by the noble Lord, Lord Lucas. I begin by...

I rise to dip my toe into the Welfare Reform Bill in front of my far more experienced Peers, but that is the lot of the lowly Whip. We have had a good, wide-ranging and useful debate on the amendment tabled by the noble Lord, Lord Lucas. I begin by...

I would be delighted if we came back to this, but it is because those excluded children are within the state system and the home-educated children cannot be in the same category because home education is a choice.

I would be delighted if we came back to this, but it is because those excluded children are within the state system and the home-educated children cannot be in the same category because home education is a choice.

Clause 3: Work-related activity: income support claimants and partners of claimants Amendment 74A 74A: Clause 3, page 10, line 17, at end insert— "(8) Regulations made under subsection (4)(c) shall include any person with dependant children who has claimed benefit in the previous three months where he has left and...

Clause 3: Work-related activity: income support claimants and partners of claimants Amendment 74A 74A: Clause 3, page 10, line 17, at end insert— "(8) Regulations made under subsection (4)(c) shall include any person with dependant children who has claimed benefit in the previous three months where he has left and...

I am going back to training. The Minister has said that jobcentre staff will use their discretion in these cases. They will have to be extremely sensitive to understand what women go through when they are badly treated by their husbands or partners. It is not in the experience of...

I am going back to training. The Minister has said that jobcentre staff will use their discretion in these cases. They will have to be extremely sensitive to understand what women go through when they are badly treated by their husbands or partners. It is not in the experience of...

I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Thomas, for moving this important amendment. I am pleased that my noble friend Lady Kennedy was able to make our proceedings, despite the pressing issues that she has to deal with. I acknowledge my noble friend’s long-standing expertise and commitment in this area and...

I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Thomas, for moving this important amendment. I am pleased that my noble friend Lady Kennedy was able to make our proceedings, despite the pressing issues that she has to deal with. I acknowledge my noble friend’s long-standing expertise and commitment in this area and...

I acknowledge that the training and understanding of advisers is key in this issue, as in so much of what we have debated so far during the passage of the Bill. In relation to the existing JSA regime and the progression-to-work model, we believe it will be necessary further to...

I acknowledge that the training and understanding of advisers is key in this issue, as in so much of what we have debated so far during the passage of the Bill. In relation to the existing JSA regime and the progression-to-work model, we believe it will be necessary further to...

Perhaps I may also throw in a question for my noble friend. When contact is made with a woman and, as a result of the situation she is exposed to, she asks for this discretion, how often does he expect the personal adviser to grant it? If it is to...

Perhaps I may also throw in a question for my noble friend. When contact is made with a woman and, as a result of the situation she is exposed to, she asks for this discretion, how often does he expect the personal adviser to grant it? If it is to...