Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill

My comments on this cluster of amendments will focus primarily on the role and make-up of the local safeguarding children boards and the children's trust boards. In Committee, I mentioned one or two concerns specifically about consultation. I am not sure that I received any answers, so I hope that I will today. The Local Government Association has been keen to state the case for ongoing consultation within the role of children's trust boards. It recognises that it was consulted prior to the Bill's drafting, but it is concerned about ongoing consultation. Local authorities will have responsibility for a range of commissioning arrangements and accountabilities across a number of aspects of planning and delivery. If local authorities are to fulfil their accountabilities effectively and ensure that young people get the best education, training and support, the Bill must contain provisions for explicit liaison and consultation between local authorities, the Secretary of State, the Young People's Learning Agency and the Skills Funding Agency, and for the avoidance of any micro-management. I hope that the Minister feels that that point has been reached. It is fair to say that the directors of children's services will be responsible for the setting up of children's trust boards. From that point of view, we can be clear that local authorities will have a key role as a consultative partner and in steering delivery. However, these new bodies have to be as democratically accountable as possible. New clause 23 will include lay members, and that is welcome. However, the ongoing inclusion of local authorities will also help.