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Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill

With the indulgence of the Committee, I was hoping to save a bit of time. I am pleased that, with the extensive discussions that have taken place with the Special Educational Consortium, Skill, Mencap and other key interest groups, and the progress that has been made, we will bring forward amendments on Report to address these issues. They will enable people with learning difficulties to meet the entry requirements through alternative evidence, rather than the qualifications set out in Clause 93, and may extend the age range of the apprenticeship entitlement up to 25 for people with learning difficulties. In developing those regulations, we will continue to work closely with those key interest groups to ensure that we have criteria that mean that this extension is available to those who genuinely need it without lowering the bar around the entry requirements or the quality of the apprenticeships. I understand the concern of the noble Lord, Lord Addington, about the timing of these amendments. I hope that he will recognise that it has been essential to have the discussions to which I referred to ensure that we get the amendments right. I hope that, on this basis, the noble Lord will feel able to withdraw his amendment.