Contributions
1,244 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDSkills and Post-16 Education Bill [ Lords ] (Fifth sitting)We fully understand the sentiment behind the changes that the Lords and the Opposition are trying to make, but we disagree with the way that they are going about them. We think…07 Dec 2021HANSARDSkills and Post-16 Education Bill [ Lords ] (Fifth sitting)I rise to speak to this monster group of amendments: 60, 57, 56, 58, 55 and 59. Amendment 60 would add to the power in clause 20 an obligation on the Office for Students to assess…07 Dec 2021HANSARDSkills and Post-16 Education Bill [ Lords ] (Fifth sitting)Clause 20 clarifies the provisions set out in section 23 of the Higher Education and Research Act 2017, known as HERA, which relate to the assessment of the quality of higher…07 Dec 2021HANSARDSkills and Post-16 Education Bill [ Lords ] (Sixth sitting)The hon. Gentleman knows full well that Governments often keep things in statutory guidance in order to retain flexibility. The last Labour Government did that time and again. As…07 Dec 2021HANSARDSkills and Post-16 Education Bill [ Lords ] (Fifth sitting)The amendments aim to give mayoral combined authorities and other authorities the power to keep their own lists of relevant education or training providers, specify their own…07 Dec 2021HANSARDSkills and Post-16 Education Bill [ Lords ] (Fifth sitting)The hon. Gentleman makes a fair point. If he looks at subsection (7)(b), he will see that one key thing we seek—this is relevant to the point I am making regarding preventing…07 Dec 2021HANSARDSkills and Post-16 Education Bill [ Lords ] (Fifth sitting)It is the latter—in the case of business failure. The Bill sets out that we will consult on the conditions and provisions for being on the list prior to making the first set of…07 Dec 2021HANSARDSkills and Post-16 Education Bill [ Lords ] (Sixth sitting)I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time. I will now discuss new clause 1, which seeks to replace clause 14. We all agree that we need to strengthen provider access…07 Dec 2021HANSARDSkills and Post-16 Education Bill [ Lords ] (Sixth sitting)What a pleasure it is to reach our sixth and final sitting on this important Bill. Clause 21 will allow the Government to introduce a list of post-16 education or training…07 Dec 2021HANSARDSkills and Post-16 Education Bill [ Lords ] (Sixth sitting)I beg to move Government amendment 26, in clause 39, page 42, line 13, leave out subsection (2). This amendment removes the privilege amendment inserted in the Lords. For Bills…07 Dec 2021HANSARDSkills and Post-16 Education Bill [ Lords ] (Sixth sitting)I reassure the hon. Gentleman that we have consulted Welsh Ministers, and we are of one mind with our counterparts in Wales. Question put and agreed to. Clause 37 accordingly…07 Dec 2021HANSARDSkills and Post-16 Education Bill [ Lords ] (Sixth sitting)Clause 37 sets out the territorial extent of the provisions. Obviously, Westminster does not normally legislate on devolved matters without the consent of the relevant devolved…07 Dec 2021HANSARDSkills and Post-16 Education Bill [ Lords ] (Sixth sitting)Clause 34 provides the Secretary of State with an order-making power to enable the designation of 16-to-19 academies as having a religious character. It also provides for the…07 Dec 2021HANSARDSkills and Post-16 Education Bill [ Lords ] (Sixth sitting)Clause 32 relates to which bodies can be prosecuted under the essay mill provisions in the Bill. Cheating service providers can range from UK-based organisations registered at…07 Dec 2021HANSARDSkills and Post-16 Education Bill [ Lords ] (Sixth sitting)Clause 31 makes it an offence to advertise essay mills. Marketing and advertising are the lifeblood of any successful industry, and we do not want this industry to be successful…07 Dec 2021HANSARDSkills and Post-16 Education Bill [ Lords ] (Sixth sitting)My hon. Friend is extremely prescient, and I congratulate him on that. This is a criminal offence and we want to see it seriously punished. However, for reasons I will set out, we…07 Dec 2021HANSARDSkills and Post-16 Education Bill [ Lords ] (Sixth sitting)I am sorry, I forgot to reply to that. It would be five offences.07 Dec 2021HANSARDSkills and Post-16 Education Bill [ Lords ] (Sixth sitting)I am pleased to see that the Opposition support our move to legislate on this matter. We are all of one mind that cheating services actually end up undermining the good work of…07 Dec 2021HANSARDSkills and Post-16 Education Bill [ Lords ] (Sixth sitting)I have been a Minister for only a short time, and I have to say I am unaware why the Bill started in the Lords, but I have nothing but admiration for their lordships, who did a…07 Dec 2021HANSARDSkills and Post-16 Education Bill [ Lords ] (Fifth sitting)Clause 17 seeks to change the law so that some students could keep their universal credit entitlement while studying. It may help if I explain to the Committee that financial…07 Dec 2021