Local Business Needs Skills Development 2023-06-12
2023-06-12
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The MP is concerned about the need for local skills improvement to meet business needs.
What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to support the development of skills in communities that meet local business needs. The MP notes the importance of ensuring people get the right skills to secure good jobs locally.
I am delighted that we will be rolling out the local skills improvement plans from this summer. The LSIPs will put local employers at the heart of developing skills provision to meet the needs of their businesses, ensuring that people get the right skills to get good local jobs. In my own Chichester constituency, the Sussex LSIP is working to meet the needs of many sectors.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP is concerned about the unique seaside heritage of Southport and its need for sector-specific skills development.
Can my right hon. Friend elaborate on how those steps will specifically support skills in the sectors of hospitality, tourism and coastal conservation? The MP mentions the importance of these industries to the local economy.
I know my hon. Friend is doing a lot to support businesses in our great seaside towns. We are increasing collaboration with colleges, employers and the chamber of commerce. The plan has been informed by hundreds of local businesses such as Lattimer, Access Point, EFT Construction, Bulldog Products and Stormspell.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific support for hospitality, tourism and coastal conservation not detailed
Collaboration With Colleges And Employers
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP is advocating for a funding bid to support the local economy through skill development.
Denise Rossiter, CEO of Essex chambers of commerce, is working with Adventure Island and other businesses on a local skills improvement plan. Will the Secretary of State support the funding bid for this work in Southend? The MP invites her to visit Adventure Island.
That sounds like too good an invitation to miss. I thank my hon. Friend for being such a champion for skills development in Rochford and Southend East. Many local employers, including Essex & Suffolk Water, Rose Builders, Ground Control, DP World London Gateway, Adventure Island and Constellation Marketing, are working with the Essex chambers of commerce and South Essex College to steer the LSIP.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific funding commitment not made
Inviting To Visit
Collaboration Details
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP highlights a significant decline in adult learning, apprenticeship starts, and part-time undergraduate student numbers since 2010.
What is the Secretary of State doing to reverse the decade of decline in skills and training opportunities that has impoverished Britain? The MP notes that almost 4 million fewer adults have taken part in learning since 2010 and there are 200,000 fewer apprenticeship starts over the last decade.
What I am doing is ensuring that the quality is better. We have worked with 5,000 employers to build the apprenticeship standards. We have had 5.4 million apprenticeship starts since 2010, and all of them are of a high quality.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific measures to reverse decline not detailed
Quality Focus
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP is concerned about the staffing crisis in the hospitality industry, which accounts for a significant portion of Cumbria's economy.
The hospitality and tourism industry is worth £3.5 billion to the Cumbrian economy annually but is suffering from a staffing crisis. Will the Secretary of State rethink her decision on kicking the catering T-level into the long grass? The MP suggests that this qualification could help address youth recruitment issues in the sector.
I agree with the hon. Gentleman that hospitality and catering are vital industries. We have full-time courses at various levels and lots of apprenticeships as well. We will bring forward and look at T-levels and potentially management in the sector.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific reconsideration not promised
Agreement With Industry Importance
Current Offerings
Response accuracy
Q6
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP is advocating for Labour's plan to devolve adult education budgets and make the apprenticeship levy more flexible.
Why is she so determined to stand against what employers say they want, and to hold learners, employers and our economy back? The Secretary of State says that she is listening to businesses, but if she were, she would hear that Labour's plan has won widespread support from the business community.
That is a good question. The hon. Gentleman is right that employers have often asked for flexibility in the levy, but the problem with their calculations is that we are spending 99.6% of the levy on apprentices. Their policy is based on levy payer spend, not budget.
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Assessment & feedback
Question about opposition to Labour's plan directly avoided
Explaining Discrepancy In Calculations
Response accuracy