Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Young People: High-quality Jobs

Monday 6 December 2021 · 7 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 5 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Department for Education is supporting young people through the plan for jobs package, which includes 500 million in funding and a 3,000 cash boost for employers hiring new apprentices extended to January.
  • Some BTECs will continue to be funded where there is a clear need for skills and knowledge that A-levels and T-levels cannot provide, meeting new quality standards.
  • The Government's reforms focus on giving people skills needed in sectors like electric vehicles, putting employers at the heart of the skills system.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jane Hunt
Education Employment
Context

N/A

Question

What steps his Department is taking to support young people into high quality jobs.

Answer from Nadhim Zahawi

We are supporting young people through the plan for jobs package, which includes £500 million of Department for Education funding and a £3,000 cash boost for employers hiring new apprentices extended to January.

Answered
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Q2 James Daly
Education
Context

Holy Cross College provides a broad range of BTEC qualifications to its students, playing a crucial role in widening access to higher education.

Question

Will my right hon. Friend confirm that BTECs will remain an option for young people seeking the necessary qualifications to secure a high-quality job and a bright future?

Answer from Nadhim Zahawi

We will continue to fund some BTECs where there is a clear need for skills and knowledge that A-levels and T-levels cannot provide, meeting new quality standards.

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Q3 Suzanne Webb
Education Employment
Context

The electric vehicle revolution will dominate or become a key factor in the urban west midlands.

Question

Does my right hon. Friend agree that we must continue to align the post-16 education system with employer demand to ensure that we have the skills for the electric vehicle revolution and to develop our own home-grown talent?

Answer from Nadhim Zahawi

I totally agree. Our reforms focus on giving people skills needed in sectors like electric vehicles, putting employers at the heart of our skills system.

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Q4 Jane Hunt
Education
Context

Loughborough College is already doing an amazing job in providing high-quality skills to people of all ages and is using Government funding to build a new T-levels centre.

Question

Will my right hon. Friend agree to visit the site to promote the great work being done to make ready for this new chapter for education in Loughborough?

Answer from Nadhim Zahawi

I would be happy to visit the new T-levels building and see where it is now offering world-class qualifications in digital, construction, health, education and childcare.

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Q5 Margaret Ferrier SNP
Women & Equalities
Context

The question focuses on improving knowledge of the gender and ethnicity pay gaps in educational institutions.

Question

What steps are the Government taking to improve knowledge of the gender and ethnicity pay gaps in schools?

Answer from Nadhim Zahawi

We strive to ensure that children have high-level information when making decisions, including careers advice, contact with businesses, and soon through the Skills and Post-16 Education Bill.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps or measures are not detailed beyond general principles.

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Q6 Toby Perkins Lab Chesterfield
Education Employment
Context

The apprenticeship levy saw a significant decline in the number of people doing apprenticeships.

Question

Why does not the Government's current skills Bill contain any measures to reform the levy or to boost apprenticeships?

Answer from Nadhim Zahawi

Apprenticeship investment is going up to £2.7 billion a year by 2024, with 4.9 million apprenticeship starts since we came into office, focusing on quality and youth engagement in lower levels.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific reforms or measures for the levy are not detailed beyond current investment figures.

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Q7 Robert Halfon Con
Education
Context

Key subjects such as design and technology and ICT have seen declines in the proportion of students taking them.

Question

Surely the EBacc should be improved to ensure that education better prepares pupils for the world of work. Will my right hon. Friend emulate the work of Margaret Thatcher, making design and technology compulsory?

Answer from Nadhim Zahawi

Computer science is part of the EBacc. We have invested more than £80 million in ICT overhaul, continuing to ensure schools deliver a broader set of GCSEs including design and technology.

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