Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Higher Technical Qualifications: Uptake

Monday 23 October 2023 · 4 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 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial Department is collaborating with devolved Administrations to promote higher technical qualifications.
  • Government is investing 115 million for providers and 300 million for institutes of technology to support higher technical qualifications.
  • The Department is introducing 172 higher technical qualifications at over 140 providers at levels 4 and 5.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 David Duguid Con
Education
Context

The MP is concerned about promoting higher technical qualifications across the UK.

Question

What steps her Department is taking to promote the uptake of higher technical qualifications. I welcome the Government's plan to introduce a new advanced British standard to help remove the artificial divide between technical and academic qualifications. Given that the need for technical skills exists right across the United Kingdom, can my right hon. Friend confirm that this new qualification will live up to its name and be truly British, like the T-level before it, and therefore be available to education settings in Scotland that choose it?

Answer from Robert Halfon

My hon. Friend is a champion of science, technology, engineering, maths and skills, and he will know that education is devolved. The devolved Administrations are responsible for their education systems, but the Department for Education is working with the Governments of the UK. We engaged at both official and ministerial level when the advanced British standard was announced. We look forward to continued engagement as it is hopefully adopted across the United Kingdom.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner asked if the qualification will be truly British and available in Scotland, but the answer only mentions devolved education systems without confirming availability or Britishness.

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Q2 David Duguid Con
Education Women & Equalities
Context

The MP is concerned about equal opportunities in higher technical qualifications.

Question

I thank the Minister for his response and his positivity. I echo the request of the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan (David Duguid) to ensure that all the benefits of higher education are present not only here on the mainland but across the whole United Kingdom. I know that is the Minister's wish, but can he confirm that, when it comes to higher technical qualifications, girls and ladies will have the same opportunities as young fellas and young men?

Answer from Robert Halfon

I thank my hon. Friend—he is my hon. Friend—for his question. We are absolutely committed to making sure that women take up higher technical qualifications, and we are doing everything we can to support them with careers advice to ensure that more take up STEM subjects in particular.

Answered
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Q3 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
Education Economy
Context

The MP is concerned about the impact of cuts on higher technical qualification uptake.

Question

Increasing the take-up of higher technical qualifications is desperately needed, with low take-up leading to persistent skills gaps and holding back economic growth. Colleges, which we were proud to celebrate during Love Our Colleges Week, tell us of issues affecting take-up, including a lack of quality careers advice, challenges with stable staffing and late course approvals. With the UK seeing only 10% of adults whose highest qualification is between level 3 and level 6—the sixth lowest rate in the G7—should not the Government address their cuts to careers advice, as Labour will, so that young people do not miss out because they hear about opportunities far too late?

Answer from Robert Halfon

I congratulate the hon. Lady on her new position, but I genuinely do not know what planet she has been living on these past few years. We introduced higher technical qualifications and are transforming qualifications across the country. We introduced T-levels and spent £90 million to transform careers advice. Ninety per cent of schools are in a careers hub, and we have the National Careers Service. We are doing huge amounts on careers, and we are spending something like £3 million to ensure that apprenticeships and skills are taught in schools up and down the country—more than 2,000 schools and 680,000 pupils. We are doing huge amounts on careers, and we are the people who transformed skills in our country.

Not addressed: The questioner asked about addressing cuts to careers advice but the answer was a broad statement of achievements without directly addressing the issue raised.

How: Attack

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Q4 Seema Malhotra Labour (Co-op) Feltham and Heston
Education
Context

The MP is concerned about the promotion of higher technical qualifications.

Question

What steps her Department is taking to promote the uptake of higher technical qualifications. We are revolutionising our skills offering by introducing 172 higher technical qualifications at more than 140 providers at levels 4 and 5. This includes £115 million for providers and £300 million for 21 institutes of technology.

Answer from Robert Halfon

We are revolutionising our skills offering by introducing 172 higher technical qualifications at more than 140 providers at levels 4 and 5. This includes £115 million for providers and £300 million for 21 institutes of technology.

Answered
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