(1)In section 509AA of EA 1996 (provision of transport etc for persons of sixth form age)—
(a)in subsection (9)—
(i)for “Secretary of State” substitute “appropriate authority”, and
(ii)for “he” substitute “it”,
(b)after subsection (9) insert—
“(9A)The “appropriate authority” means—
(a)in the case of a local education authority in England, the Secretary of State, and
(b)in the case of a local education authority in Wales, the National Assembly for Wales.”, and
(c)in subsection (10), after “Secretary of State” insert “(in relation to local education authorities in England) or the National Assembly for Wales (in relation to local education authorities in Wales)”.
(2)In section 509AB of EA 1996 (further provision about transport policy statements)—
(a)in subsection (5), for the words from “by the Secretary” to the end substitute “under this section—
(a)by the Learning and Skills Council for England (in the case of an authority in England), or
(b)by the National Assembly for Wales (in the case of an authority in Wales).”,
(b)in subsection (6)(d), for the words from “by the Secretary” to the end substitute “for the purposes of this section by the Learning and Skills Council for England (in the case of an authority in England) or the National Assembly for Wales (in the case of an authority in Wales).”, and
(c)after subsection (7) insert—
“(8)Any guidance issued by the Learning and Skills Council for England under this section must be published in such manner as the Council thinks fit.”
(3)In section 509AC of EA 1996 (interpretation of sections 509AA and 509AB)—
(a)in subsection (6), after “subsection (5)” insert “in relation to its application in the case of local education authorities in England”, and
(b)after subsection (6) insert—
“(7)The National Assembly for Wales may by order amend the definition of “academic year” in subsection (5) in relation to its application in the case of local education authorities in Wales.”
(4)In section 18 of the Learning and Skills Act 2000 (c. 21) (supplementary functions of Learning and Skills Council for England), after subsection (5) insert—
“(6)The Secretary of State may by order confer or impose on the Council such powers or duties falling within subsection (7) as he thinks fit.
(7)A power or duty falls within this subsection if it is exercisable in connection with—
(a)the Secretary of State’s function under section 509AA(9) of the Education Act 1996 (power to direct LEA to make arrangements additional to those specified in transport policy statement), or
(b)any function of the Secretary of State under any of sections 496 to 497B of the Education Act 1996 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.”