Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Lifelong Learning and Skills Development

Monday 31 January 2022 · 3 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Department launched the Skills for Life campaign to promote skills offers among adults.
  • City of Wolverhampton College is praised for its electric vehicle maintenance course.
  • The Minister agrees to look into the issue of funding for Northern College in Barnsley.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jane Stevenson
Education
Context

The questioner seeks details on promoting lifelong learning initiatives.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to promote lifelong learning and skills development.

Answer from Alex Burghart

One absolute priority is to ensure that everyone can obtain the skills they need at whatever time in life is right for them. That is why last week we launched our Skills for Life campaign, which will promote skills offers among adults, including our level 3 offer of apprenticeships and skills bootcamps.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific steps or funding details provided beyond launching a campaign.

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Q2 Jane Stevenson
Education Employment
Context

The questioner praises the employment Minister's visit to City of Wolverhampton College and asks about promoting similar courses.

Question

It was an enormous pleasure to welcome the employment Minister, my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Sussex (Mims Davies), to Wolverhampton last week, when we met jobseekers of many ages who were taking part in a “car maintenance for electric vehicles” course delivered by City of Wolverhampton College as part of the Department for Work and Pensions' sector-based work academy programme or SWAP scheme. How can the Minister help providers like that college offer more courses of that kind, which are so valuable in helping people into work?

Answer from Alex Burghart

I commend the work that City of Wolverhampton College is doing on electric vehicle maintenance. When we see excellent providers working with employers, we also see the best outcomes for students, which is why we are investing an additional £3.8 billion in further education and skills over the current Parliament.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific measures to support colleges like City of Wolverhampton College mentioned.

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Q3 Dan Jarvis Lab Barnsley North
Education Local Government
Context

The questioner highlights the importance of Northern College in Barnsley as an adult residential college and seeks assurance on future funding.

Question

The truly outstanding Northern College in Barnsley is the only adult residential college in the north of England. Can the Minister assure us that it will continue to receive its residential uplift funding in future years?

Answer from Alex Burghart

I should be delighted to look into that issue for the hon. Gentleman.

Not addressed: No commitment or timeline provided on residential uplift funding.

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