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  Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill - Funding Regional Development Agencies via Skills Funding
  
  --- MOTION EFFECT ---
  
  The House of Lords rejected an amendment to the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill which would have prevented the funding of Regional Development Agencies via the soon to be created body: "<a href="http://www.dius.gov.uk/further_education/fe_reform/raising_expectations">Skills Funding</a>". 
  
  Margaret Sharp (Baroness Sharp of Guildford) had proposed the amendment which was to <a href="http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200809/ldbills/078/09078.72-78.html#j551">Clause 111(6) of the Bill</a>. That Clause referred to the functions of The Chief Executive of "Skills Funding". The amendment was to add the text shown in bold below:
  
  <blockquote>
   The Chief Executive may pay to a specified body such sums as appear to the Chief Executive appropriate for enabling the body <b>but excluding a regional body such as a Regional Development Agency</b> to meet costs and expenses incurred, or to be incurred, by it in formulating its strategy or keeping it under review.
  </blockquote> 
  
  Immediately prior to the vote <a href="http://www.theyworkforyou.com/lords/?gid=2009-11-04a.266.0">Baroness Sharp of Guildford explained why she was pressing for a vote saying</a>: "I am also left with many doubts about whether the old fashioned, top-down labour market planning with our single integrated strategies, our NINJA boards and all the rest of it, is the right way to do it. I would therefore like to test the opinion of the House."
  
  
  The results of the vote not accepting the amendment was: Contents 96; Not-Contents 136.
  
  
  
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