Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill

My Lords, the clause gives the Secretary of State powers to direct the YPLA. He may give the YPLA directions containing objectives at any time when it has either failed to discharge a duty imposed under this or any other Act or has acted or proposes to act unreasonably with respect to the performance of any of its functions. He may give it other directions about its performance. In giving directions, the Secretary of State may set time limits within which they are to be complied. Directions may also relate to the management of the YPLA. Directions may not relate to the funding of activities carried on by individuals or individual bodies, so the Secretary of State cannot require the YPLA to fund a particular provider to deliver a particular course in respect of a young person. That is to ensure that the YPLA can retain responsibility and accountability for individual funding decisions, without influence from the Secretary of State. The clause is essential to enable the Secretary of State to exercise an appropriate level of control over the YPLA, as one of his agencies—surely an important point—and is a consistent provision across many NDPBs. To address all the points made: yes, on direction to a type of college, and no to individual colleges. I commend Clause 73.