Citation, commencement and application

1. —(1) This Order may be cited as the Learning and Skills Council for England (Supplementary Functions) Order 2007 and comes into force on 14th May 2007.

(2) This Order applies in relation to England.

Interpretation

2. In this Order—

“the Council” means the Learning and Skills Council for England

“the 1996 Act” means the Education Act 1996( 2 ).

Powers and duties to be conferred and imposed on the Council

3. —(1) The Secretary of State confers and imposes the powers and duties mentioned in paragraph (2) on the Council, to the extent that they are exercisable in connection with—

(a) the Secretary of State’s function under section 509AA(9) of the 1996 Act; or

(b) any of the Secretary of State’s functions under any of sections 496 to 497B of the 1996 Act as regards anything done, proposed to be done or omitted to be done by a local education authority in England under section 509AA or 509AB of that Act.

(2) The powers and duties mentioned in this paragraph are—

(a) investigating and responding to complaints and queries from individuals and members of Parliament;

(b) investigating legal claims against local education authorities which relate to the exercise of their functions under sections 509AA or 509AB of the 1996 Act;

(c) mediating between interested parties where it appears to the Council that there is a reasonable case to answer;

(d) resolving such complaints, claims and queries as appropriate; and

(e) in the event that any complaint or claim cannot be resolved, preparing cases for consideration by the Secretary of State as to whether he should exercise any of his functions under section 509AA(9) or sections 496 to 497B of the 1996 Act.