Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Skills Training

Monday 9 December 2024 · 10 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 7 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Skills England is being established to unify the fragmented skills training system in England.
  • The Government plans to give businesses more flexibility through a reformed growth and skills levy.
  • Further education colleges will play a central role in Skills England's initiatives.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jennifer Craft Lab Thurrock
Education Employment
Context

The question arises from concerns about the fragmented and failing skills system left by the previous government.

Question

I am concerned about the steps being taken to reform skills training. The previous Government left behind a skills system that was fragmented and failing, with falling numbers of apprenticeships for young people and adults unable to find the necessary training courses they need.

Answer from Bridget Phillipson

We are turning the page by establishing Skills England to unify the fragmented landscape, and bringing forward a plan for post-16 education and skills which will deliver the education and training pathways that our economy, employers and learners need.

Answered
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Q2 Anna Dixon Lab Shipley
Education Employment Business & Trade
Context

3.8 million people aged 19 and over benefit from skills education in England every year, with Shipley college serving the community.

Question

Some 3.8 million people aged 19 and over benefit from skills education in England every year. I pay tribute to all the hard-working professionals employed in further education, including at Shipley college in my constituency. However, businesses in Saltaire tell me that they struggle to recruit people with the digital and tech skills they need locally.

Answer from Bridget Phillipson

We will be giving businesses the flexibility they have been asking for, to unlock growth and drive opportunity through the reformed growth and skills levy.

Partly answered
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Q3 Joe Morris Lab Hexham
Education Employment Business & Trade
Context

Small businesses in Hexham face challenges recruiting young people from the area.

Question

When I speak to small businesses in my constituency of Hexham, they regularly decry an inability to recruit young people from the area who want to remain there. Will the Secretary of State assure me that we will be working with small and medium-sized businesses to ensure that young people can remain where they grew up if they wish?

Answer from Bridget Phillipson

We are creating Skills England to fill the skills gaps we see across our country. Skills England will also work with our regional mayors to ensure that we address some of the regional inequalities we see, as well as some of the opportunity areas.

Partly answered
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Q4 Dave Robertson Lab Lichfield
Education Economy
Context

South Staffordshire college's creative arts faculty is based at Lichfield college and will open a new state-of-the-art recording studio.

Question

In January, South Staffordshire college's creative arts faculty will open a new state-of-the-art recording studio and rehearsal space that will allow students to develop skills in music performance and production. Does the Secretary of State agree such investments are essential for maintaining UK's role as a global leader?

Answer from Bridget Phillipson

Absolutely, that is why we set out in the Budget an additional £300 million of capital investment for our colleges.

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Q5 Jennifer Craft Lab Thurrock
Education
Context

South Essex college offers a significant variety of post-16 skills-based courses.

Question

This morning I had the pleasure of visiting South Essex college, which offers a wide range of post-16 skills-based courses from theatre and music production through to digital skills. What role does the Secretary of State see the further education sector playing in delivering the Government's skills agenda?

Answer from Bridget Phillipson

Our further education colleges have a crucial role to play, which is why they will be a central part of what we take forward through Skills England.

Partly answered
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Q6 Steve Barclay Con North East Cambridgeshire
Education Women & Equalities
Context

The Government promised to target technical training in areas such as construction, engineering and digital.

Question

At the general election, the Government said they would specifically target technical training in areas like construction, engineering and digital. Why are they failing to act on the pay gap between further education teaching posts and those in schools?

Answer from Bridget Phillipson

The very big pay gap for further education took place over the last 14 years, during which his party was in power.

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Q7 Ellie Chowns Green North Herefordshire
Education Employment Science & Technology
Context

All analyses show a massive undersupply of green skills, with demand growing at double the rate of supply.

Question

The Secretary of State will be aware that all analyses of the supply of green skills show a massive undersupply. Demand is growing at double the rate of supply. What are the Government's plans to address this shortfall?

Answer from Bridget Phillipson

We have started work very quickly to begin the process of legislating to establish Skills England, which already exists in shadow form. I am more than happy to ensure that the hon. Lady gets a meeting on the topic.

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Q8 Tim Farron Lib Dem Westmorland and Lonsdale
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

Only half of level 3 agricultural apprenticeships in Cumbria were completed last year, with no level 4 apprenticeships available. This highlights a concerning situation for equipping young people with the skills needed for farming careers.

Question

There has never been greater urgency for us to equip our young people with the skills they need to enter a career in farming, yet only half of those who took level 3 agricultural apprenticeships in Cumbria last year completed them, and no level 4 apprenticeships were available. Will the Secretary of State look at this worrying situation, pay personal attention to it, and provide the funding necessary for us to have agricultural apprenticeships in Britain's leading agricultural county?

Answer from Bridget Phillipson

I am more than happy to look personally at the issue that the hon. Gentleman sets out, to ensure that we do more in this area. He will be aware that we have a review under way of level 3 qualifications, but we know that as a country we need to do much more on level 4 and 5 qualifications as well. If he will share further information with me, I will happily look into the matter.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Secretary of State did not commit to providing specific funding or action related to agricultural apprenticeships.

How: Under Review

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Q9 Vikki Slade Lib Dem Mid Dorset and North Poole
Education
Context

Lytchett Minster school in the constituency relies heavily on BTec level 3 qualifications for its sixth form, as these suit less academically able children.

Question

Lytchett Minster school in my constituency is proud of its record in delivering level 3 BTecs; in fact, its sixth form would not survive without BTecs. What assurance can the Secretary of State give me about the continuation of these really important qualifications, which suit less academically able children?

Answer from Bridget Phillipson

We are making good progress on our post-16 qualifications reform review, which will report by the end of the year, so the hon. Lady does not have long to wait to hear the outcomes of that review.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Secretary of State did not provide specific assurances about the continuation of BTec level 3 qualifications.

How: Under Review

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Q10 Neil O'Brien Con Harborough, Oadby and Wigston
Education Employment Business & Trade
Context

Before the election, Labour promised to let businesses spend up to 50% of their apprenticeship levy money on non-apprenticeships. Now Ministers say this commitment is under review.

Question

Before the election, Labour promised to let businesses spend 50% of their apprenticeship levy money on non-apprenticeships, but now Ministers say the commitment is under review. Ministers are taking away the flexibility of businesses to spend their own money on level 7 apprenticeships—a big change to the principles of the levy. Will the Secretary of State confirm when the review of her own policy will conclude, and will she rule out doing to level 6 apprenticeships what she is doing to level 7 apprenticeships?

Answer from Bridget Phillipson

We remain committed to reforming the failing apprenticeship levy and turning it into a growth and skills levy with up to 50% flexibility for employers, driving new opportunities in growth areas across our country, alongside ensuring that we deliver many more apprenticeship starts for our young people. We inherited a situation where apprenticeship starts were falling at a time when we urgently need to invest in the skills of the next generation. We will work with business through Skills England to drive forward what is required for adult learners as well as young people.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Secretary of State did not confirm the conclusion date of the review or rule out changing flexibility for level 6 apprenticeships.

How: We Remain Committed, Under Review

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