Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Supporting Young People into High-quality Jobs

Monday 31 January 2022 · 5 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Robbie Moore inquired about plans to replicate apprenticeship success stories across the country.
  • Government data indicates a 43% increase in apprenticeship starts in the first quarter of the academic year compared to the same period last year.
  • Toby Perkins requested a meeting to discuss further promotion of apprenticeships ahead of Apprenticeship Week.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Robbie Moore Con Keighley and Ilkley
Education Employment
Context

The question follows the announcement of increased funding for skills training, focusing on young people entering high-quality jobs. The MP highlights a specific success story from Byworth Boilers.

Question

I visited Byworth Boilers and met Suzanne Rutherford, Jago Harry and Curtis Daly, all of whom progressed through the apprenticeship scheme. What plans does my right hon Friend's Department have to ensure that such success stories are repeated across the country?

Answer from Michelle Donelan

There have been 130,000 apprenticeship starts in the first quarter of this academic year, up by 43% on the same period last year. Apprenticeships can be transformative and I am sure that Suzanne Rutherford, Jago Harry and Curtis Daly will find that for themselves.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The plans to replicate successful schemes were not specified

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Q2 Robbie Moore Con Keighley and Ilkley
Education
Context

Data shows a significant decline in apprenticeships from 2001 to 2019, even before the pandemic. The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development has criticised the levy system.

Question

Government data shows that total apprenticeships fell by almost a quarter from 2001 to 2019, even before the pandemic. With such failures, can the Minister explain why no reforms are proposed in the Skills and Post-16 Education Bill?

Answer from Michelle Donelan

There have been 130,000 apprenticeship starts in the first quarter of this academic year, up by 43% on the same period last year.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Reforms and bill details were not addressed

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Q3 Toby Perkins Lab Chesterfield
Education
Context

The MP highlights the importance of apprenticeships as a viable career route, especially considering recent success stories.

Question

A degree is not the only path to a successful career. Given the importance of apprenticeships, will the Minister arrange a meeting ahead of Apprenticeship Week to discuss further promotion?

Answer from Michelle Donelan

Both I and the Under-Secretary of State for Education, my hon Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Alex Burghart), who is the Skills Minister, will be delighted to meet our hon Friend. We have just launched our new skills campaign, Get the Jump.

Answered
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Q4 Gagan Mohindra Con South West Hertfordshire
Education Employment
Context

The MP criticises the Minister's approach to valuing educational routes and highlights that low-value courses might not accurately reflect career outcomes.

Question

Does the Minister realise that many quality job routes are through universities she disparages, and does she agree we need a better metric than salary for course value?

Answer from Michelle Donelan

In fact, we have not based it on salaries; we have based it on graduate outcomes, so there is a range of jobs that people can progress into.

Partly answered

Not addressed: She did not provide a clear stance on better metrics or job routes outside universities

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Q5 Daniel Zeichner Lab Cambridge
Education Employment
Context

Increased funding for skills training was announced, focusing on young people entering high-quality jobs through various schemes.

Question

What steps is the Department taking to support young people into high quality jobs?

Answer from Michelle Donelan

We are increasing spending on skills by £3.8 billion over this Parliament, including growing apprenticeship funding to £2.7 billion by 2024-25, and our skills revolution will ensure that young people have the skills they need through bootcamps, T-levels, traineeships and apprenticeships.

Answered
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