---

Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill

My Lords, I have listened carefully to the explanation given by the noble Baroness, Lady Garden, of her proposed requirement for what Amendment 280 calls "intergenerational learning activities" and to what the noble Baroness, Lady Howe, and my noble friend Lord Elton have said. The noble Baroness has raised some interesting issues and I look forward to what the Minister has to say. Amendment 280C would mean that health visiting services and community mental health visitors were included among the services that may be provided through children’s centres. We strongly agree that health visitors should be an integral part of an approach to children’s services, particularly for children of a very young age. The decline in health visitor services is very troubling and it is right that the noble Baroness has highlighted this area. I am not sure whether I heard her give an explanation of Amendment 281, which I understood was in this group. I do not know whether she would like to say anything on it. Having said that, I look forward to the Minister’s response.