Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill

I thank the Minister for his encouraging and helpful reply. Clearly, I did not read the Bill closely enough. It is extremely good news about the 18 to 24 year-olds and I thank him for that. It is also good to hear about the work of the National Care Advisory Service. I am grateful to all noble Lords who have taken part in the debate. The notion of corporate parenting is so important. This is one area at which one might look a little more closely to see whether one might put a little more pressure on local authorities, as they produce apprenticeships, to prioritise. They should not only open up access to apprenticeships but reach out to young people leaving care and say, "This really is an offer and we will support you in succeeding in it". My noble friend Lady Howe spoke about going perhaps beyond the age of 25. I understand that in Denmark a young person can stay in a residential home until the age of 28 or 29. Nowadays, the average age of a young person leaving home is 24, so there is a lot to be said for going even further than the Minister has gone. However, what he said is extremely encouraging and I will read it with great care. I am grateful for the Committee’s sympathetic reaction to these amendments and I beg leave to withdraw Amendment 74. Amendment 74 withdrawn. Clause 38 : Interpretation of Chapter Amendments 75 to 78 not moved.