I support the amendments tabled by the noble Baroness, Lady Morris. I shall speak to Amendments Nos. 3, 5 and 6, which are in my name and that of my noble friend Lady Walmsley. As the noble Baroness, Lady Morris, mentioned, these amendments take us straight to the issue of...

I support the amendments tabled by the noble Baroness, Lady Morris. I shall speak to Amendments Nos. 3, 5 and 6, which are in my name and that of my noble friend Lady Walmsley. As the noble Baroness, Lady Morris, mentioned, these amendments take us straight to the issue of...

I thank the Minister for his careful and lengthy response on this important area. Can he provide some details about the enforcement officer in the local authority, perhaps at a later date? I recognise that the Minister will not wish to be prescriptive, but it is an important role, and...

I thank the Minister for his careful and lengthy response on this important area. Can he provide some details about the enforcement officer in the local authority, perhaps at a later date? I recognise that the Minister will not wish to be prescriptive, but it is an important role, and...

The noble Baroness uses emotive words. Am I saying that there should ultimately be a sanction for those who are not participating, in the context of significantly improved provision and of Clause 39, which ensures that reasonable excuses will be entertained and that there is a proper process? Yes, I...

The noble Baroness uses emotive words. Am I saying that there should ultimately be a sanction for those who are not participating, in the context of significantly improved provision and of Clause 39, which ensures that reasonable excuses will be entertained and that there is a proper process? Yes, I...

I sense that we are going through the motions slightly, having had an extremely long debate that went through all the arguments, so I shall simply recap what I said earlier. As the noble Baroness, Lady Perry, so rightly put it, we need many more carrots than sticks, and the...

I sense that we are going through the motions slightly, having had an extremely long debate that went through all the arguments, so I shall simply recap what I said earlier. As the noble Baroness, Lady Perry, so rightly put it, we need many more carrots than sticks, and the...

We share the aspirations of the Government but feel that compulsion is the wrong route. I agree with much of what the noble Baroness, Lady Walmsley, said.

We share the aspirations of the Government but feel that compulsion is the wrong route. I agree with much of what the noble Baroness, Lady Walmsley, said.

Noble Lords will be pleased to hear that, although I cannot promise to be quite as succinct as the noble Lord, Lord Dearing, with his two-word response a few moments ago, I have no intention of wearying the Committee by going through all the arguments again. They have already been...

Noble Lords will be pleased to hear that, although I cannot promise to be quite as succinct as the noble Lord, Lord Dearing, with his two-word response a few moments ago, I have no intention of wearying the Committee by going through all the arguments again. They have already been...

That was a commendably succinct contribution. Since 1997, apprenticeship starts have increased from 65,000 to 180,000 in 2006-07 and are projected to grow to almost 210,000 by 2010-11. I acknowledge what the noble Baroness said, that the overall number of apprentices in learning declined slightly in the past year. However,...

That was a commendably succinct contribution. Since 1997, apprenticeship starts have increased from 65,000 to 180,000 in 2006-07 and are projected to grow to almost 210,000 by 2010-11. I acknowledge what the noble Baroness said, that the overall number of apprentices in learning declined slightly in the past year. However,...

I am sorry to interrupt the Minister. Am I not right in thinking that, while the number of apprenticeships has risen quite considerably, there has been a very disappointing increase in the number of apprenticeships for NVQ level 3? The apprenticeships have been largely in NVQ level 2. To achieve...

I am sorry to interrupt the Minister. Am I not right in thinking that, while the number of apprenticeships has risen quite considerably, there has been a very disappointing increase in the number of apprenticeships for NVQ level 3? The apprenticeships have been largely in NVQ level 2. To achieve...

Hear, hear!

Hear, hear!

I shall need to come back to the noble Baroness on the precise relationship between the two, but my advice is that more apprenticeships are to be delivered through Train to Gain. I shall need to elucidate more fully precisely what the term ““delivered”” means, and I shall return to...

I shall need to come back to the noble Baroness on the precise relationship between the two, but my advice is that more apprenticeships are to be delivered through Train to Gain. I shall need to elucidate more fully precisely what the term ““delivered”” means, and I shall return to...

I am most grateful to the Minister and the noble Baroness, Lady Sharp of Guildford, for her support. I think that the noble Lord said that completed apprenticeships had risen to 100,000, but that leaves a great number of young people who are not finishing them. It is still possible...

I am most grateful to the Minister and the noble Baroness, Lady Sharp of Guildford, for her support. I think that the noble Lord said that completed apprenticeships had risen to 100,000, but that leaves a great number of young people who are not finishing them. It is still possible...

My information is that the proportion of apprenticeships at level 3 has remained at around 30 per cent in recent years. However, I will look at the specific point raised by the noble Baroness and see if I have any further information. The information I have is that the level...

My information is that the proportion of apprenticeships at level 3 has remained at around 30 per cent in recent years. However, I will look at the specific point raised by the noble Baroness and see if I have any further information. The information I have is that the level...

Can the Minister clarify the Train to Gain situation? My understanding had been that money going to companies under the scheme was not to fund apprenticeships but was expressly to enable the qualifications of those already in employment in the firm to be expanded up to level 2, so that...

Can the Minister clarify the Train to Gain situation? My understanding had been that money going to companies under the scheme was not to fund apprenticeships but was expressly to enable the qualifications of those already in employment in the firm to be expanded up to level 2, so that...

moved Amendment No. 18: 18: Clause 2, page 2, line 8, at end insert— ““( ) The duty under this section shall not apply to any person until the Learning and Skills Council has certified that in its opinion there are sufficient contracts of apprenticeship of suitable quality available to...

moved Amendment No. 18: 18: Clause 2, page 2, line 8, at end insert— ““( ) The duty under this section shall not apply to any person until the Learning and Skills Council has certified that in its opinion there are sufficient contracts of apprenticeship of suitable quality available to...

Critics will say that we are putting the cart before the horse; I still think that the Government are jumping the gun on the issue. Yes, lots of reforms are in hand and yes, we wish them very well, but given the history of failure on the introduction of practical,...

Critics will say that we are putting the cart before the horse; I still think that the Government are jumping the gun on the issue. Yes, lots of reforms are in hand and yes, we wish them very well, but given the history of failure on the introduction of practical,...

On the question of requiring suppliers to the public sector to take on apprentices, when I have tried that out on industrialists I get quite a good response. As long as the burden is imposed universally, they are prepared to accept it. They all see the need in current circumstances...

On the question of requiring suppliers to the public sector to take on apprentices, when I have tried that out on industrialists I get quite a good response. As long as the burden is imposed universally, they are prepared to accept it. They all see the need in current circumstances...

On these Benches we have a great deal of sympathy for these amendments. As I mentioned on the previous set of amendments, in many senses apprenticeships are the most satisfactory route for young people who have a more practical bent and wish to learn by doing. At present there are...

On these Benches we have a great deal of sympathy for these amendments. As I mentioned on the previous set of amendments, in many senses apprenticeships are the most satisfactory route for young people who have a more practical bent and wish to learn by doing. At present there are...

It is supposed to lead on further and to be a gateway for those young people who are not ready for a course that leads to an accredited qualification. These young people may lack the social skills or study skills necessary to take part in training leading to an accredited...

It is supposed to lead on further and to be a gateway for those young people who are not ready for a course that leads to an accredited qualification. These young people may lack the social skills or study skills necessary to take part in training leading to an accredited...

moved Amendment No. 16: 16: Clause 2, page 2, line 8, at end insert— ““( ) The duty under this section shall not apply to any person until the Secretary of State has published an assessment of the availability of suitable education and training opportunities in each local authority area.””...

moved Amendment No. 16: 16: Clause 2, page 2, line 8, at end insert— ““( ) The duty under this section shall not apply to any person until the Secretary of State has published an assessment of the availability of suitable education and training opportunities in each local authority area.””...