Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

STEM Jobs

Wednesday 7 February 2024 · 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 2 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government is increasing the number of undergraduate STEM courses taken by young women, which has seen a 50% increase.
  • University technical colleges provide excellent technical skills and work experience through industry links for young people starting careers in STEM.
  • The Government supports industry initiatives such as a 17 million scholarship programme for AI and data science conversion courses and a 15 million investment by the UK Space Agency into a diverse workforce.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Flick Drummond Con
Science & Technology Women & Equalities
Context

The question arises from the need to support young girls and women in entering science, technology, engineering, and mathematics sectors where they are currently underrepresented.

Question

What steps she is taking to help support women into science, technology, engineering and mathematics jobs. The MP noted an increase in undergraduate STEM courses taken by young women but highlighted the need for continued efforts in getting more women into these fields.

Answer from Maria Caulfield

We are helping to get young girls and women into STEM sectors through three key ways: increasing the number of undergraduate STEM courses taken up by young women, which has seen a 50% increase; supporting apprenticeships with 70% of jobs now accessed through them; and our STEM returners project for women who have left the profession to return to work.

Answered
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Q2 Flick Drummond Con
Education
Context

The question addresses the importance of University Technical Colleges (UTCs) in providing opportunities for young women to start their careers in STEM, citing an example of a new UTC in Southampton that will provide extra places.

Question

University technical colleges are a good place for young women to start in STEM. I welcome the new UTC in Southampton which will provide the extra places that Portsmouth UTC is unable to offer. Does my hon. Friend agree that UTCs provide a great start to a career in STEM, and that the proposal for UTC sleeves in secondary schools will help more girls into STEM careers?

Answer from Maria Caulfield

I absolutely agree, University technical colleges provide an excellent experience for young people not just academically but also in providing technical skills and great work experience through industry links. The young people in my hon. Friend's constituency have such great options for UTC provision.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not address the proposal for UTC sleeves in secondary schools or provide details on how it will help more girls into STEM careers.

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Q3 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
Northern Ireland Science & Technology Women & Equalities
Context

The question stems from the encouragement of young ladies and girls in Northern Ireland wishing to be involved in science, technology, and mathematics. The MP highlights that these individuals can perform as well as men in such roles.

Question

I am always encouraged by the number of young ladies and girls who wish to be involved in science, technology and mathematics in Northern Ireland. They can do the job every bit as well men. Is it not important to ensure that companies that wish to employ people do more to encourage young ladies to take up jobs?

Answer from Maria Caulfield

The hon. Member is absolutely right, the Government cannot do it all; we need industry and there are some great examples such as a £17 million scholarship programme for artificial intelligence and data science conversion courses and the UK Space Agency investing £15 million into diverse workforce streams to help young women get into the sector.

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