Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Level 3 Vocational Pathways

Monday 9 September 2024 · 7 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 7 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Labour Government announced a pause and review of qualifications reforms to support skills growth and students.
  • Government plans include reforms like the growth and skills levy for businesses and Skills England for identifying skills gaps.
  • An intense review is being conducted to ensure all young people have options available, addressing issues with T-levels.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Sureena Brackenridge Lab Wolverhampton North East
Education
Context

The MP highlights the impact of previous government's roll-out failures on BTec qualifications and T-levels.

Question

What steps she is taking to ensure the adequacy of the provision of level 3 vocational pathways for students. Given her background in education, I know how important it is that all our young people have opportunities to achieve and thrive. How does my right hon. Friend intend to fix the mess she has inherited and ensure diverse aspirations are met?

Answer from Bridget Phillipson

This Labour Government have announced a pause and review of qualifications reforms to support skills growth and students, improving training through measures like Skills England. Given her background in education, my hon. Friend knows how important it is that all our young people have opportunities to achieve and thrive.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps for ensuring adequacy of vocational pathways were not detailed

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Q2 Bill Esterson Lab Sefton Central
Education Climate
Context

The MP highlights the shortage of intermediate and advanced-level skilled workers.

Question

Will the Secretary of State tell us how her plans will ensure that more young people seize opportunities in clean energy, and how our education system will deliver necessary qualifications? I know how passionate my hon. Friend is about ensuring young people across Sefton are able to seize future opportunities. How do plans address this?

Answer from Bridget Phillipson

We are determined to drive forward as a clean energy superpower, with reforms like the growth and skills levy for businesses flexibility and Skills England for identifying skills gaps. Our plans aim to unlock opportunity and harness talent.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific measures ensuring young people seize opportunities were not detailed

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Q3 Sureena Brackenridge Lab Wolverhampton North East
Education
Context

The MP notes the impact of botched T-level roll-outs and BTec qualification eliminations.

Question

How does my right hon. Friend intend to fix the mess inherited from eliminating most BTecs in the midst of a botched T-levels roll-out? She is right that we have inherited a big mess, but we are conducting an intense review to ensure all young people have options and make a success of T-levels.

Answer from Bridget Phillipson

We are conducting an intense review to ensure all young people have options available, addressing issues with T-levels.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific measures fixing the impact were not detailed

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Q4 Tim Farron Lib Dem Westmorland and Lonsdale
Education
Context

The MP points out the failure to deliver the T-level in hospitality and tourism, caused by a lack of placements.

Question

Surely that is surmountable; what plans does she have to talk to the hospitality and tourism industry to deliver the T-level? The hon. Gentleman makes an important point about ensuring that placements are available. I am happy to ensure he has a discussion with the Minister for Skills to address his concerns.

Answer from Bridget Phillipson

I am happy to ensure that he has a discussion with the Minister for Skills to address his concerns about hospitality.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific plans engaging the industry were not detailed

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Q5 Rebecca Smith Con South West Devon
Education
Context

The MP mentions Alderman Tooling's investment in talent, questioning future apprenticeship numbers.

Question

Does the Secretary of State expect the number of apprentices to be higher or lower than today in five years? Apprenticeship starts for under-25s fell by 38% from 2015-16 to 2022-23. It will fall to this Labour Government to turn that around.

Answer from Bridget Phillipson

However, apprenticeship starts for under-25s fell by 38% from 2015-16 to 2022-23. It will fall to this Labour Government to turn that around.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific expectations or plans provided for future apprenticeship numbers

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Q6 Calvin Bailey Lab Leyton and Wanstead
NHS Education
Context

The MP asks to meet for discussing the effective roll-out of T-levels and their absorption by services.

Question

Will she meet me and local further education experts to discuss this issue? Yes, I would be very happy to meet my hon. Friend. In this period of review, we are speaking to employers, training providers and colleges to ensure that we get this right.

Answer from Bridget Phillipson

Yes, I would be very happy to meet my hon. Friend. In this period of review, we are speaking to employers, training providers and colleges to ensure that we get this right.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific plans for the meeting were not detailed

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Q7 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
Northern Ireland Women & Equalities
Context

The MP asks about equality of opportunity for young people, especially women, in defence and cyber-security.

Question

What is being done to ensure that there is equality of opportunity for everyone, both male and female? The hon. Gentleman makes an important point about ensuring that people from a range of different backgrounds, including young women, see the opportunities that exist. I have had the opportunity to meet my counterparts in Northern Ireland and I look forward to working with them.

Answer from Bridget Phillipson

The hon. Gentleman makes an important point about ensuring that people from a range of different backgrounds, including young women, see the opportunities that exist. I have had the opportunity to meet my counterparts in Northern Ireland and I look forward to working with them.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific measures for equality were not detailed

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