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Education and Skills Bill

I rose briefly just then because I wanted to make a point that I thought might assist the Minister in answering that question. I would like to clarify. We have already indicated our intention to oppose the Question that Clause 2 stand part. Our amendment to Clause 1 is therefore not intended to compel somebody to take what we call in our amendment an ““entitlement””. It is an entitlement. Perhaps the noble Lord, Lord Lucas, has misunderstood us. Our intention was not that they should be compelled at some time during their life to take up that entitlement. It should perhaps be seen alongside our intention regarding Clause 2, which is the compulsion bit. I hope that makes our intention clear. I thank everyone who has taken part in this important debate. Before I come to the Minister's response, I will say a few words about one or two of the contributions. Like the noble Baroness, Lady Morris of Yardley, I am concerned that no young people are excluded. She mentioned that she did not like the idea of exemptions. If you have exemptions and at the same time an entitlement, as we do, there is no danger that it will be used as an excuse not to bother to provide for their education. I would have the same concerns as she has if there were not at the same time an entitlement, but, as I believe that there is an entitlement, it is not really a problem. I very much agree with her about the difference between sixth form and the rest of the school. That was also my experience when I was in teaching. Probably one of the most effective things in my attitude to the compulsion element is that experience—when choice is there, success comes. We all want young people to have success in their education. It makes the most enormous difference when young people have chosen what they will do and when they will do it. The element of choice made all the difference, and they succeeded better for it. I want to take away the compulsion element so that there is no need for exemptions. The noble Baroness commented on the danger that compulsion on 16 to18 year-olds could turn people off learning for life, and I agree with her and with the noble Lord, Lord Dearing, that lifelong learning is important.