Commentary Part 1: the Learning and Skills Council for England Consultation with learners and employers
44.Section 7 inserts a new section into the 2000 Act. New section 14A requires the LSC to have regard to guidance from the Secretary of State about consulting with learners, with people likely to become learners, with employers and with other persons specified in such guidance on the funding and provision of learning. New section 14A does not define consultation nor does it specify how or when consultation is to be delivered. These issues will be included in the guidance. New section 14A specifies that guidance must provide for the views of a learner or a prospective learner to be considered in the light of his age and understanding.
45.The background to this section is a Government commitment in the March 2006 White Paper ‘Further Education: Raising Skills, Improving Life Chances’ to create a demand-led system of further education provision, whereby funding follows the choices of employers and learners.