Further Education Institutions and 16 to 19 Academies (Specification and Disposal of Articles) Regulations 2012

Baroness Jones of Whitchurch Excerpts

Thursday 12th July 2012 Grand Committee

Colleges have a power to carry out searches for prohibited items, not a duty. College principals can therefore choose whether to exercise this power depending on their college’s individual situation. Where they do, they can be confident that they are supported by legislation. I beg to move.

[Baroness Jones of Whitchurch]

My Lords, noble Lords will have noticed that we are somewhat embarrassed on this side because our spokesperson is not here. For the sake of completeness, if it helps, I can say that I am persuaded by what the Minister has said today and we are therefore prepared to support the order.

[Baroness Wilcox]

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Baroness for being here and for saying that. I was aware that this issue has already been discussed in another place and that, apart from one or two points that I have been able to pick up on in my speech, we were in agreement. I feel that this is one of those times when this is okay. As I have said, the extension of the existing legislation will provide young people and their parents with the reassurance that they will have equal treatment regarding expectations of behaviour, regardless of the education institution that they have attended. We believe that it is important that all students at school age are treated equally. This is particularly so at the moment because of the increasing numbers of younger students in colleges. I trust that noble Lords agree—indeed, I know that they do, for which I am extremely grateful.

Motion agreed.