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Further Education and Training Bill [HL]

I should like to point out that the role to be played by the sector skills councils in both the development of specialised diplomas and subsequently in whatever may emerge from the Leitch report is considerable—no doubt, central. There is a real question to be asked about whether employers are able to meet the expectations that will be placed on them. The noble Baroness may not know that at the moment many colleges find it impossible to secure practical work placements for apprenticeships. More students put themselves forward for apprenticeships these days than there are work placements available. It is extremely difficult to find employers who are prepared to take them on. Similarly, time and again if we look at the history of 120 years of reports about skills in this country, expectations have been put on employers and I regret to say that time and again employers have not lived up to them. I hope that we shall see a change of mood on the part of employers. The noble Lord, Lord Leitch, suggested that there should be a voluntary agreement on their part that they will seek to ensure that every employee gains a level 2 qualification. We are a long way from that and I hope that they can live up to those expectations.