Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill

I thank the Minister for his reply and thank my noble friend and the noble Baroness, Lady Sharp, for joining in the debate. I should probably have done more to explain what my amendment would do. If it were passed, it would probably lead to a need to rewrite Part 6A, because I doubt that the wording of my amendment would stand up on its own. The Minister’s last argument seemed to be exactly what we have been saying—that, to the maximum extent possible, employers who already have good systems with which their employees are content, which are positive and productive for both, should in some way be left loose enough not to be subjected to the full rigour of Part 6A. In that connection, I have looked at new Section 63D(8), which comes right in the middle of the clause and says: ""Nothing in this Part prevents an employee and an employer from making any other arrangements in relation to study or training"." Is it right to interpret that to mean that it is entirely a matter for the employee to decide whether he or she starts the whole process? That is how Part 6A reads. Therefore, it might be helpful if we had the Minister’s assurance that employers and employees are entirely free to agree whatever they want to agree about additional study and training, without reference to this part.