Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill

My Lords, after Committee in the other place, my right honourable friend Ed Balls committed to holding a meeting with Annette Brooke, the Front-Bench spokeswoman for the Liberal Democrats in the other place, to talk about the introduction of safeguarding targets along these lines. We had a meeting last week, when I took her through the process. In Committee in this House, I was very happy to go through at length the consultations and so on around the targets. As the noble Baronesses, Lady Walmsley and Lady Verma, are aware, we are looking to introduce these targets in 2011, so there is a time pressure on that process of consultation. We have to develop the targets in consultation with stakeholders and then do a technical consultation. As the noble Baroness said, I am absolutely committed to getting these targets right. I do not have an issue with her on debating these important targets in relation to safeguarding. I am advised that I cannot accept the amendment, because it is defective. If it were not so, I would happily accept it. Technically, I have to say that I will consider it. I have not accepted it, but I will bring it back.