Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill

I agree with the Minister that it is important that the quality is maintained, but perhaps he will bear in mind that elsewhere in the Bill is a whole raft of arrangements to ensure that standards are maintained in whatever apprenticeships are finally included in the framework. If such arrangements as I have described did not come up to those standards, they would simply not be allowed to be called apprenticeships. I do not believe that there is any reason why there should not be an agreement with the employer such as makes clear the responsibilities of the employer and of the young person in the arrangements that I have described—that could easily be done. Nor do I believe that it would dilute the brand. Does it dilute the brand of a university degree to have the various financial and other support mechanisms for university undergraduates which the Government have in place? I do not believe that it does. Therefore, I do not think that the kind of support that we are talking about would dilute the brand of apprenticeships. However, as I have said, I am grateful to the Minister for having said that he will consider before Report how we can reassure those organisations which provide such a valuable service that their programmes can continue and can somehow be included in the framework. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment 4 withdrawn. House resumed.