Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Local Skills Needs

Monday 27 February 2023 · 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 4 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government is working with Cabinet colleagues to ensure education and training programmes meet local skills needs through the roll-out of 38 local skills improvement plans.
  • Government is investing 18 million to help children with disabilities or special educational needs climb the skills ladder of opportunity.
  • Over 90% of schools and colleges are now part of the Government's careers hub, encouraging business involvement in education and skills.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Mark Menzies Con
Education Employment
Context

The MP is concerned about the alignment between education and training programs and local skills needs.

Question

What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to ensure that education and training programmes meet local skills needs?

Answer from Robert Halfon

We are working with colleagues across Government and put employers at the heart of local skills systems, with the roll-out of 38 local skills improvement plans. These employer-led plans will help ensure that skills provision better meets the needs of employers, and we are also ensuring that apprenticeships, T-levels and higher technical qualifications are all employer-led qualifications.

Answered
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Q2 Ben Spencer Con Runnymede and Weybridge
Education Employment Women & Equalities
Context

The MP held a meeting in his constituency focusing on enhancing opportunities for students, including those with special educational needs. A representative from a special educational needs school highlighted the importance of these opportunities.

Question

Does my right hon. Friend agree that work and training opportunities are essential for those of all abilities and all ages, including those with special educational needs or living with disabilities?

Answer from Robert Halfon

My hon. Friend is a champion of schools and skills in his constituency. He is absolutely right to have a passion for making sure that children with disabilities or special educational needs have a chance to climb the skills ladder of opportunity. We are investing £18 million to try to help those SEND students with employment opportunities, as well as ensuring that careers guidance helps them at every step of the way to get the career chances that they deserve.

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Q3 Mark Menzies Con
Education Employment
Context

The MP mentioned an event at Carr Hill school celebrating the Inspiring Lancashire programme by BAE Systems and CREATE Education, which has introduced digital skills to over 2,000 pupils. He asked about steps being taken to encourage business involvement.

Question

What steps is my right hon. Friend taking to encourage businesses to get involved in education and skills?

Answer from Robert Halfon

My hon. Friend is a champion of skills as well. It is very good news that that school is promoting careers and working with BAE, which does so much for apprenticeships. Some 90% of schools and colleges are now part of our careers hub. I am very pleased that Lancashire has had 10,000 apprenticeship starts since last year and was an early adopter of T-levels.

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Q4 Emma Hardy Lab Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice
Education Benefits & Welfare
Context

The MP noted that 740 people from her constituency have been accepted to universities, with 35 attending in the same area. She highlighted a Department for Education assessment stating that increased student loans and grants will negatively impact students.

Question

When will the Government ensure that all students have the financial resources they need to succeed?

Answer from Robert Halfon

We have increased to £276 million—a £15 million increase—the money given to the Office for Students from which universities can draw down to help students who face financial difficulties. We have frozen the loan—in 2025, it will not have had an increase for seven years. Students who face difficulties can also get bursaries from universities.

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Q5 Barry Sheerman Lab
Education
Context

The MP expressed concern about a significant number of young individuals who are recognised as bright and intelligent at the age of 11 but do not achieve much when they reach big schools.

Question

Why is that, and why have this Government done so little to rectify it since 2011?

Answer from Robert Halfon

In my area of skills, more than 5 million apprenticeships have started since 2010. Over the past decade we have invested in skills in a way that we never had before—over £3.8 billion. We have massively improved our schools, and I think 88% are now rated good or outstanding. We have a narrative in which we are delivering on education and skills.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly address the reasons for the achievement gap or specific actions since 2011.

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