Live Debate: Commons Chamber

Commons Chamber

Monday 14th September 2026

(began 1 hour, 14 minutes ago)

14:34

Private Business

Order. Order. Order Order. Order the Order. Order the Vice-Chamberlain

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of the household. Message from the King, sir. In reply to loyal and dutiful reply to loyal and dutiful addresses from this house. I have received your Humble Address, praying that I should appoint Mr. Allan Mabbott OBE as an Electoral Allan Mabbott OBE as an Electoral Commissioner with effect from the 1st of May 2026, for the period ending 30th of April 2030. I will comply with your request. I have received your Humble Address, praying that I should appoint Michael Jeffrey CBE to the Office of chair of the National Audit Office from the 10th of January 2027.

I will comply with your request. I have received your Humble Address, praying that I should appoint Richard Lloyd OBE to the office of chair of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, with effect from 1st of September 2026 for the period ending on the 31st of August 2029. I will comply with your request. I have received your Humble Address, praying that I should appoint Howel Williams as an Electoral Commissioner with effect from the 1st of October 2026 for the period ending 30th of September 2029, that I should appoint Chris Ruane as an Electoral Commissioner with effect from 1st of November 2026.

For the period ending 31st of October 2030, and that I should reappoint Sheila Ritchie as an Electoral Commissioner with effect from the 1st of February 2027 for the period ending 31st of January 2031. I will comply with your request.

14:35

Mr Speaker

comply with your request.

14:36

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, The Secretary of State for Education (Manchester Central, Labour )

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Yeah yeah yeah yeah. on the death of his father. I am sure the whole House will want to send our best wishes to him and his

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send our best wishes to him and his family at this sad time. Here, right. We now come to questions.

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Secretary of State for education, Tessa Munt. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Question

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Question number one. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can I also join you, Mr. Speaker, Can I also join you, Mr. Speaker, in. I'm sure the whole House will want to send our condolences. Our deepest condolences to the Prime Minister on this saddest of days Minister on this saddest of days and to his wonderful mum, Eileen, his brothers Nick and John, all the grandchildren and the whole family. Mr. speaker, the student loan system we inherited is broken and

14:36

Tessa Munt MP (Wells and Mendip Hills, Liberal Democrat)

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unfair, and some graduates feel the weight of it more strongly. Going to university remains a fantastic to university remains a fantastic opportunity, but I've been very clear that this issue is at the top of my in-tray, and I've been very of my in-tray, and I've been very clear on my views about it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can I associate myself with the comments of the myself with the comments of the Secretary of State? And I'm sure that all of us on these benches feel deeply sad for the Prime feel deeply sad for the Prime Minister.

Tuition fees continue to rise while plan two repayment threshold stays frozen until 2030, and if it's frozen until 2031, it will align with the minimum wage, leaving students facing higher premiums for up to 40 years. Students from disadvantaged backgrounds are hit by sky high rents and living costs, and face a brutal job market. Young constituents tell me they can't trust the fee system. When a change of government can mean a change to the terms of their loans. So will the Minister commit to me to update the thresholds, to restore the thresholds, to restore maintenance grants and create an independent watchdog, so that the government cannot keep moving the goalposts? goalposts?

14:38

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, The Secretary of State for Education (Manchester Central, Labour )

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Yes, sir. Can I just reassure her that we absolutely do keep these things under review? I have said it's top of my in-tray and it remains. So. I'm acutely aware of the cost of living pressures that many graduates in their 20s and early 30s, particularly those on plan two, are under, and it is affecting their decisions about work and life. their decisions about work and life. And that's why this issue is one that I'll continue to push at, and hopefully I'll have something more to say soon.

14:38

Mr Luke Charters MP (York Outer, Labour)

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Luke Charters thank you, Mr. Speaker. May I also pass on my condolences to the Prime Minister and his family? Mr. speaker, I would declare that I am a plan to borrower myself, and I know firsthand how unclear the loans were at the time. Would my hon. Friend, right hon. Friend say little more about how the government's clearing up the guidance given to borrowers, and how she wishes to overhaul the student loans company?

14:39

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, The Secretary of State for Education (Manchester Central, Labour )

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Well, can I thank him and thank him for all his campaigning on this issue, which I've followed closely? He's absolutely right. In response to the excellent report of the Treasury Select Committee, we have committed to much clearer guidance for students before they make decisions about going to university, so that it can be much clearer about how the student loan system will work and possibly affect them in the future. And I think this is a really important piece of work. a really important piece of work.

And can I also just say that we have capped the maximum interest rates this year, and we are reintroducing maintenance grants.

14:39

Saqib Bhatti MP (Meriden and Solihull East, Conservative)

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Mr Speaker Saqib Bhatti Shadow Minister.

14:39

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, The Secretary of State for Education (Manchester Central, Labour )

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I associate my remarks with the Secretary of State regarding the Secretary of State regarding the Prime Minister's father, I, despite previously calling the student loan system egregious and saying reviewing the system is a top priority. She just said it's at the top of her entry. The Treasury response to the Treasury Select Committee rejected a series of recommendations that would have alleviated some of the burden on planned to student loans. So I asked Secretary of State what exactly is her plan to fix the student loan system?

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Well, as I've said, you know, I determined that we get these things determined that we get these things right. And the two things can be true at the same time that I feel that the system is unfair and in that the system is unfair and in need of reform, whilst also at the same time, we have to see that in the context of the wider public the context of the wider public finances and all the pressures and priorities that are falling on it.

But I do have to say, Mr. Speaker, But I do have to say, Mr. Speaker, I do feel it's slightly audacious of the party opposite. You know, they introduced the plan to system they've thrown froze the threshold for times when they were in for times when they were in government. They're not independent campaigners on this issue today. It now falls in my lap to actually now falls in my lap to actually deal with it. And I will do that. Unlike the party opposite Christine please.

Secretary stay. will answer questions two and six together. Firstly, I'd like to thank Alan Milburn for his commitment to our young people. This is one of our country's biggest challenges, and I agree superpower.

14:41

Christine Jardine MP (Edinburgh West, Liberal Democrat)

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Christine Jardine. comments, Mr. Speaker, and those of the Secretary of State figures quoted today in the BBC suggest that as many as 1 in 5 of young people in education may not be attending regularly at college courses, so the situation may actually be even worse than outlined in the report. And while I welcome the Secretary of State's commitment to a fundamental encouragement of technical education, does she think that we are at the stage where we are approaching a crisis, and what we need to do is rethink exactly what it is? We will engage our young people in education that they are

14:42

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, The Secretary of State for Education (Manchester Central, Labour )

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not getting from it, what they need to feel prepared for their future life, and how we should go about life, and how we should go about that. Lowestoft well, can I first of all, thank my hon. Friend. She's, I think, one of the highest I think, one of the highest contributors to education questions, as she was when I was Leader of the House and business questions. And I House and business questions. And I look forward to continuing debating these issues with her. She's absolutely right.

Attendance, absolutely right. Attendance, inclusion and critical engagement are also pivotal to to this issue. And that's why we do need to look at not just the curriculum and qualifications that young people can have, but ensuring that they have the passport that they need for life and they are engaged and wanting to go to school or college every day.

14:42

John Grady MP (Glasgow East, Labour)

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John Grey. businesses in Glasgow East who are desperate and determined to give young people apprenticeships, opening the door to a lifetime of opportunities. But what many of them told me was that they had to give basic training on maths to help young people thrive in jobs like plumbing, joinery and welding. And they rightly think that schools in Scotland and Glasgow should be teaching this. Does my right hon. Friend agree with me that much more Friend agree with me that much more needs to be done in Scotland to improve the teaching of maths in schools? Yeah, so? schools? Yeah, so?

14:43

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, The Secretary of State for Education (Manchester Central, Labour )

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Well, absolutely. Last week's Pisa results show the importance of those foundations in English, maths and science, which over a 25 or 30 year consensus, we've really motored on in England. Scotland, however, not so well. And he will know that Scotland's education system used to be the envy of the world. That's not the case today world. That's not the case today and I think it's about time the Scottish Government really took a leaf out of England's book. Yeah. leaf out of England's book.

Yeah.

14:44

Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP (Richmond and Northallerton, Conservative)

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Rishi Sunak thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can I thank the Secretary of State for her commitment to this issue and indeed, the hon. Member for Glasgow Glasgow East focus on maths. On Friday I visited Allerton Steel, a steel fabricator in Northallerton. They do a great job providing high quality apprenticeships for young people every year, regardless of the cycle. I was lucky to meet David, Oliver and Jacob. Wonderful to see their passion, their excitement about their futures. So will the Secretary of State join me in Secretary of State join me in wishing them well, but also commend businesses like Allerton Steel, local companies up and down the country that are ultimately the ones providing these opportunities for our young people.

14:44

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, The Secretary of State for Education (Manchester Central, Labour )

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Well, I'm absolutely delighted to join him in thanking Allerton Steel for all the work that they do in supporting young people in and around his constituency with apprenticeships. And he's absolutely right. I held a summit at number ten North, which I'm sure he's wanting to come and visit at some point soon. Last week, with school and college leaders, with business leaders as well. And, you business leaders as well. And, you know, there's a real sense of galvanising the whole of the business community who are really determined to play their part in tackling this issue.

tackling this issue.

14:45

Lloyd Hatton MP (South Dorset, Labour)

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Lloyd Hatton speaker, Dorset Innovation Park is home to a number of defence firms that are looking to expand. However, too many young people right across South Dorset are unable to get the qualifications that these employers are looking for. So will the Minister work with Dorset Council, Minister work with Dorset Council, Yeovil College and myself to establish a satellite college at the innovation Park, giving more the innovation Park, giving more young people that direct pathway into high skilled, high paid jobs?

14:45

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, The Secretary of State for Education (Manchester Central, Labour )

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Crown Estate well, can I thank him for all the work that he does in his constituency on these issues too? And he's absolutely right. too? And he's absolutely right. We've got to get opportunities to young people near where they live, working in the kind of partnership way that he describes, and I'm happy to meet with him to discuss happy to meet with him to discuss how we can get such opportunities well into his constituency.

14:46

Rebecca Smith MP (South West Devon, Conservative)

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Mr. Rebecca Smith.

14:46

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, The Secretary of State for Education (Manchester Central, Labour )

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The government continues to point the finger for NEETs at one of the areas that is performing comparatively well. Our schools, meanwhile, in Labour led Wales, which ignored the conservative government's education reforms. School standards have fallen and the NEETs crisis is even worse than in England. So why is the government blaming schools for NEETs when the bigger problem is the collapse of entry level jobs

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for young people? Yeah. Well, can I just gently say to

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Well, can I just gently say to the hon. Lady, it is not just that we have over a million young people not in education, training or not in education, training or employment, most of whom were educated under the party opposite. educated under the party opposite. We also now have 1.5 million students persistently absent from students persistently absent from school. We have a very stubborn disadvantage gap which didn't close under their watch. We have widening regional attainment gaps. We have a send crisis that we're having to deal with that they didn't do.

And I think perhaps more importantly, the the treadmill of resources that the the treadmill of resources that this party opposite put our young people on failure after failure after failure. Just this summer, after failure. Just this summer, Mr. Speaker, less than 14%, less than 14% of our young people passed their E6 in maths. That's the their E6 in maths. That's the legacy that they left, and I'm going to rectify it.

14:47

Munira Wilson MP (Twickenham, Liberal Democrat)

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Real Democrat spokesperson Munira Wilson.

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Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Could I also send my condolences to the Prime Minister on the death of his father and the condolences of everyone on the Liberal Democrat benches? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. benches? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Alan Milburn is clear that exposure to the workplace for teenagers is critical to helping them secure employment when they leave employment when they leave education. Yet we know that less than a third of year 13 students have completed work experience. Now, the government has said it's

14:47

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, The Secretary of State for Education (Manchester Central, Labour )

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the government has said it's committed to more work placements, which is welcome. So could I ask the Secretary of State instead of overhauling the school system, will she instead focus on working with the Chancellor and the business Secretary to reverse the jobs tax and other policies that have made it increasingly difficult for businesses to offer either work

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experience or a traditional first job for young people. No state.

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Well, can I thank her for that? She look, I think we need to do all of these things. Alan Milburn was of these things. Alan Milburn was absolutely clear that education was the faltering foundation. We're seeing too many young people leaving school without the qualifications that they need to go on and get either an apprenticeship on and get either an apprenticeship or into work, and that's why there's so many NEETs there as well. And we're seeing too many young people disengaged from school much earlier on as well.

And this is all part of the NEETs crisis to of course, young people aren't subject to NICs in the same way as older people are, and neither are apprenticeships either. And we have put in place a number of things, like the support for those wanting to take up an apprenticeship, the £4,000 bursary. So we're doing a huge amount at the other end as well, but we do need to deal with the supply issue.

14:49

Jen Craft MP (Thurrock, Labour)

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Jen Craft thank you, Mr. Speaker. Number three. Number three. >> Secretary yeah, it's me again,

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Secretary yeah, it's me again, Mr. Speaker. Yeah. I feel under pressure as a former Leader of the House, to to know exactly where I am in the Order Paper. But can I first of all, thank my hon. Friend for all the work that she does on the issue of Send. And I listen closely to her speeches in the recent health Bill debate. And can I assure her that these reforms are essential and that no one

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Department can do them alone? And that's why we're working closely with the Department of Health. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I do

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I do welcome the Secretary of State's. The kind words just now. I'd also like to associate myself with her remarks and the remarks to yourself, remarks and the remarks to yourself, Mr. Speaker, relating to the Prime Minister's very sad loss. She Minister's very sad loss. She speaks of the health debate that was up last week where I received a was up last week where I received a a commitment to much greater accountability via the education bill for the the health sector and delivering the health part of the Send system.

I'd be grateful if she could outline what work has been done with colleagues from the done with colleagues from the Department of Health to bring this forward.

14:50

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, The Secretary of State for Education (Manchester Central, Labour )

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Well, again, can I thank her for her really doughty campaigning on these issues? She's absolutely right. We have to as part of the reforms, Mr. Speaker, we have to ensure that we've got accountability right through the system. That means in health as much as in education and other sectors as well. And I can assure her that we're working incredibly closely with the Department of Health. And I've spoken to the new Secretary of State for health a number of times about this issue, and I look forward to shaping those and I look forward to shaping those reforms with her in the coming weeks.

14:50

Rt Hon Mark Pritchard MP (The Wrekin, Conservative)

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Mark Pritchard thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can I congratulate the hon. Lady, right hon. Lady, for her return to the Cabinet? The two main points that parents with children with SEND in my constituency would make to her in her new role is one is the length of time it takes for the education, health and care plans to be decided. And secondly, the number of specialist school places that are available, both in Shropshire and in Torfaen The Wrekin. So can I ask the Secretary of State what plans she has to of State what plans she has to improve that and to intervene where local authorities are not performing? performing?

14:51

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, The Secretary of State for Education (Manchester Central, Labour )

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Well? Again, can I thank him for having raised these issues many times? And he's absolutely right. The current system isn't working for parents and it isn't working for children. It's far too adversarial. There's too many delays in the system. And then often parents find they can't get the support that they actually want at the end of it. So making sure we've got adequate places, which is why we've put already put in an extra £3.7 billion to support those extra £3.7 billion to support those extra places, but also why we need to make sure there's there's strong levers of accountability here with levers of accountability here with local authorities and others as well.

And I can he can rest assured that we are looking at all of those issues right now.

14:52

Samantha Niblett MP (South Derbyshire, Labour)

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Samantha Niblett thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my constituency of South Derbyshire, schools, including Fair Meadows Foundation primary applied to reform led Derbyshire County Council for capital funding for Stem provision within their mainstream setting. They were told their application was successful in July and again in September of 2025. Funding to come from a pot believed to be around 7 million, with an extra 500,000

14:52

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, The Secretary of State for Education (Manchester Central, Labour )

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being mentioned on the 10th of September this year. But so far no funding has been released. So I funding has been released. So I personally raise this with the leader of the county council, Alan Graves, in June. And we chased for Graves, in June. And we chased for this again and chased again last week. We were told that the SLAs are still being worked on. So can I please ask the Minister to join me in calling upon Derbyshire County Council to get on with releasing these monies?

14:53

Danny Kruger MP (East Wiltshire, Reform UK)

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>> Yeah. >> Well, I'm really sorry to hear that. The reform led council in Derbyshire is is not following through quickly enough on its commitment to send families in the council area. We will, of course pick those up, and that's why we are working very closely with all local authorities on their send reform plans. And we're making sure that they will be actioning them quickly.

14:53

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, The Secretary of State for Education (Manchester Central, Labour )

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Danny Kruger thank you, Mr. Speaker. Research from the Department of Education confirms that children who move schools frequently, often suffer poor outcomes, particularly children outcomes, particularly children with special educational needs. And. This is why a number of service families, armed forces, families, people on average incomes choose to use independent education to minimise the disruption that follows from their postings. So can I ask the Secretary of State? A new education team? Will she publish, perhaps jointly with the MoD? Just some research showing whether the the introduction of VAT on school fees has led to an increase in in-year moves, particularly for service families?

14:54

Q4. What steps she is taking to implement the recommendations of the Curriculum and Assessment Review. (901327)

Well, he he rightly identifies >> Well, he he rightly identifies an issue. That's why we're introducing new individual support plans, which will be national and plans, which will be national and be digital, so that they will move around with children as well. We obviously want to minimise the number of times that students do move schools, or have to then move schools, or have to then reassess their support when they get there. I don't believe there's been a particular issue for children from armed forces families in relation to the VAT on private in relation to the VAT on private schools, but I'm happy to look into it for him.

14:54

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, The Secretary of State for Education (Manchester Central, Labour )

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Caroline Voaden question number four, please.

14:54

Caroline Voaden MP (South Devon, Liberal Democrat)

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Sir. >> Is it still me? It's still me. Can I first of all, thank the hon. Lady for all the work that she does Lady for all the work that she does on the Education Select Committee. Reforms to curriculum and assessment go hand in hand with our vision to ensure that education is a passport for work life and success. Becky Francis did a fantastic job for us on this, and we will soon publish proposals to go out to consultation that build on this review.

These proposals will ensure a broader and more inclusive education system, with fewer barriers to progression, stronger technical and vocational options, more emphasis on oracy as well as more stepping stone qualifications.

14:55

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, The Secretary of State for Education (Manchester Central, Labour )

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Wimbledon thank you, Mr. Speaker. The government has committed to providing an enrichment entitlement providing an enrichment entitlement for every child, including access to nature, and evidence shows that outdoor education can be part of outdoor education can be part of the solution to some of the biggest issues facing our young people the mental health and obesity crisis, mental health and obesity crisis, the rise in NEETs and also a failing system. But when a fifth of children in the most deprived parts of the country never spend meaningful time outdoors, something has to change and a framework for schools isn't enough.

We need a step change. So will the Secretary of State back my outdoor education bill so that every child can grow up outdoors with better mental wellbeing, physical health attainment, attendance and employability ahead?

14:56

Callum Anderson MP (Buckingham and Bletchley, Labour)

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Well, again, can I thank her for >> Well, again, can I thank her for all the campaigning she's done on this issue and for bringing forward? You know, I think a really important bill to this House that important bill to this House that we can debate these issues. I actually think they go wider than the school system. I think this is more a bigger piece about what childhood means in the 21st century, and how we can all support children to be independent, to to have success and good wellbeing and to be happy.

And of course, playing and being outdoors is a critical part of that.

14:56

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, The Secretary of State for Education (Manchester Central, Labour )

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Callum Anderson thank you, Mr. Speaker. An important feature of the curriculum assessment review was the recognition and the was the recognition and the commitment to strengthening financial literacy as a vital life skill for young people to make sure that we can deliver on that ambition. Participating in the OECD's Pisa Financial Literacy Assessment helps us both measure our progress and also identify gaps in in that progress. So can the Secretary of State set out what assessment she has made of the merits of the UK participation in 2029? Might she meet me to discuss it?

14:57

Tim Farron MP (Westmorland and Lonsdale, Liberal Democrat)

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Well, first of all, can I say we've expressed an interest in taking part in the financial literacy assessment for Pisa in 2029, because he's absolutely right. We recognise the importance of financial education for children and young people, and we're going to be strengthening this in the maths and citizenship curriculums coming up. And I'm really happy to have a meeting with him to discuss how we can take this further.

14:57

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, The Secretary of State for Education (Manchester Central, Labour )

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Tim Farron thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can I commend my hon. Friend the Member for South Devon for her bill that she's already for her bill that she's already spoken about. And can I draw the Secretary of State's attention to the change of the law in the Scottish Parliament recently, which means that every young person at school has an entitlement to four school has an entitlement to four nights residential, five days out about in a residential situation, because the massive benefit that will bring to their resilience, their love of learning, their capacity to work together in teams.

Isn't it time, given that 81% of children from the poorest backgrounds never get access to outdoor education, that we should consider doing something similar?

14:58

Peter Swallow MP (Bracknell, Labour)

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Yeah. importance of residential activities. And for every young person to have access to to them. person to have access to to them. I'm not sure if Gill Head is in his constituency. He's nodding away, which I went to as a child. It's owned by Manchester City Council and my children have been to Gill Head. It's a fantastic facility and of course, my ambition is that every child has the opportunity to go somewhere as fantastic as Gill Head, and I'm happy to work with him on these issues.

14:58

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, The Secretary of State for Education (Manchester Central, Labour )

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To swallow. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This summer, the Prime Minister set out his ambition for our education system, saying that whether you choose construction, coding or choose construction, coding or classics, Labour will build an education system where you'll get the skills you need. As the chair of the all party parliamentary group on classics, I really welcome this. Can I ask the Secretary of State to set out what her vision is for the arts and humanities in our curriculum, so we can make sure that those subjects, which are so

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good at empowering young people with skills, are taken up by more young people. Yeah.

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Yeah. Well, he's he's already spoken to me a number of times about these issues because he's, he's a very issues because he's, he's a very good chair of the APPG classics. And can I thank him for his question? And he's absolutely right. question? And he's absolutely right. I mean, I think that's what we have got to recognise, Mr. Speaker, is that the current offer in our

14:59

Patrick Spencer MP (Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, Conservative)

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that the current offer in our education system has got narrower and narrower, and even bringing in measures like EBacc has not actually helped to preserve important subjects like classics and computer science. In fact, they've fallen significantly since its introduction. So I want to ensure that all our young people

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have got access to these great academic subjects, as well as technical ones. Yeah.

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Welcome to the new shadow Spencer. Yeah. Mr. speaker, over. The.

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The. Weekend, the Secretary of State backtracked on an interview she gave to the observer where she said gave to the observer where she said she wanted to reintroduce coursework. Now, for the record, we were very we were very pleased to

15:00

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, The Secretary of State for Education (Manchester Central, Labour )

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were very we were very pleased to hear this, however, in that same interview you made, she made a number of other commitments, which included reducing the number of exams children take at the age of 16 and introducing a GCSE in football coaching. So can I ask her which of those commitments she still stands by are. still stands by are.

15:00

Mr Speaker

Oh dear Mr. Speaker, honestly, you know, they had a go at it last week and it didn't go very well. So they're having another go this week. If you could, if you can find where I said that I wanted to bring back coursework, bring it to me, because I didn't say that. No, I didn't, I

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didn't at all. Begin with your own questions. We don't need further. Come back.

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We don't need further. Come back. I gave it I gave a ten minute statement to this House last week, Mr. Speaker, and I answered questions for 90 minutes, and I questions for 90 minutes, and I think that gave a very clear account of what I want to do. But, you know, they want to defend their narrowing and narrowing of the curriculum without actually accepting responsibility for the accepting responsibility for the effects of that. Yes. I do want to ensure that great subjects like computing actually involve using a computer, because they took that out of the curriculum entirely.

I want to make sure that PE actually involves some PE. Call me a radical, Mr. Speaker, but, you know, I think that is something that goes hand in hand. And I make no apology at all, either for wanting to see or to see very much at the heart of our

15:01

Q5. What steps her Department is taking to support apprenticeships. (901328)

curriculum in school, they send their kids to private school where they all come out really confident. Well, they all come out confident in speaking, and I want that for every child.

15:01

Paul Waugh MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education (Rochdale, Labour )

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Bradley Thomas number five, Mr. Speaker.

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Welcome all new Minister. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Apprenticeships are the responsibility of the Department for Work and Pensions, but the DfE is supporting apprenticeships by is supporting apprenticeships by introducing new technical and vocational pathways from 14 to 19 years, including new V levels from 2027, new level two pathways and even more T levels from which young people can progress to

15:02

Bradley Thomas MP (Bromsgrove, Conservative)

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people can progress to apprenticeships and higher education. These new 14 to 19 qualifications will enable students

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to progress more easily and onto apprenticeships. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can I welcome the Minister to his place welcome the Minister to his place and congratulate him on his appointment? The government is right to focus on the importance of right to focus on the importance of parity between vocational education and academic education. However, when comparing the academic year when comparing the academic year 2020 526 with 2324, the number of people that have started apprenticeships has dropped by 9% of the number that have completed has gone down by 17%.

So in with reference to the minister's point about vocational pathways, can he update the House on what steps the government is taking to ensure that these are linked with the needs of industry, so that this in itself does not become an academic exercise? exercise?

15:02

Paul Waugh MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education (Rochdale, Labour )

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Well, may I return those? Congratulations by congratulating the hon. Member on his elevation to the shadow front bench. And can I congratulate him, too, on the work he's done on vocational skills, including in his jobs fair in Bromsgrove? It's worth saying that actually V levels are precisely designed to tally with what employers want. That's exactly why we're reforming the system, to make sure that every child is going to have the right technical education. And more importantly, I think that more broadly, the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State have said that that parity of esteem between vocational and academic education is exactly what everyone in this country wants.

in this country wants.

15:03

Helen Hayes MP (Dulwich and West Norwood, Labour)

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It's like. Helen Hayes. Minister on the sad loss of his father. The Education Secretary strongly agrees with the government's focus on expanding opportunities for apprenticeships and high quality technical and vocational education across the country. But too often, young people wanting to pursue apprenticeships are left to do their own research across multiple different platforms with varying application timescales. Last year, the Education Select Committee recommended that to help young people understand the full range of opportunities available to them and provide parity of esteem, there should be a single point of access for information about apprenticeships alongside vocational, technical and academic courses.

Will the new Minister look again at this recommendation and again at this recommendation and seek to ensure young people wishing to do apprenticeships and vocational and technical courses are just as well supported as their are just as well supported as their university?

15:04

Paul Waugh MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education (Rochdale, Labour )

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Hey. all the hard work the Education Select Committee has done on exactly this topic. She's absolutely right. There should be that parity of esteem. There should that parity of esteem. There should be the equivalent of system for our children that are going into technical education. My hon. Friend the Baroness Smith, is looking at precisely this subject, and we aim to come up with some answers very soon. Thank you. soon. Thank you.

15:04

Rt Hon Sir John Hayes MP (South Holland and The Deepings, Conservative)

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Sir John Hayes. tell you that when I was the skills Minister, we built the biggest number of apprenticeships in modern

15:05

Paul Waugh MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education (Rochdale, Labour )

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history, and I did so because I believe in elevating the practical. But too often careers advice and guidance delivered in schools drives people down the academic route to study degrees that have neither academic rigour nor nor economic value. So will he look again at the advice and guidance given to people so they're apt to choose. Talents and tastes can be met by good quality vocational

**** Possible New Speaker ****

technical education. I thank the hon. Gentleman for all his hard work as the former Skills Minister on exactly this subject, I think the House is in agreement on this subject. The Prime Minister rightly says, Mr. Speaker, that we should be focusing on problem solving rather than point scoring, given that he point scoring, given that he mentions apprenticeship starts, it would be remiss of me not to point out that apprenticeship starts under this government have gone up under this government have gone up by 8.7%, whereas they collapsed under the last government since 2020.

15:05

Derek Twigg MP (Widnes and Halewood, Labour)

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Derek Twigg Mr. Speaker. colleges play in apprenticeships and the support they give for education. I wonder whether you

15:06

Paul Waugh MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education (Rochdale, Labour )

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could tell me what extra measures is the government doing to ensure that further education colleges can that further education colleges can actually ensure they provide a wide range of education and technical skills to apprentices coming into their colleges? My right hon. Friend is a doughty champion for Friend is a doughty champion for the Fe within his own constituency, and that's exactly what many members are doing across the House. He's right about education. Many of our specialists who are engaged in teaching further education and vocational skills are indeed addressed addressing this point.

And that's why many of them support a move to V levels, because they are aligned with what employers want. Employers are telling us they want those job skills to be more in tune with the academic skills, and that's what we're delivering for.

15:06

Georgia Gould MP, Minister of State (Education) (Queen's Park and Maida Vale, Labour)

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Braintree.

15:07

Aphra Brandreth MP (Chester South and Eddisbury, Conservative)

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Fund is part of a £4 billion investment over three years to support early intervention and send send support long term, the government aims to move more money from the high needs block directly into school budgets, ring fenced for send so they can plan their workforce, intervene earlier, ending the long waits for support that too many young people see in the current system.

15:07

Georgia Gould MP, Minister of State (Education) (Queen's Park and Maida Vale, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Following a recent visit to Tushingham Primary School, the head teacher raised concerns with me teacher raised concerns with me that for many small rural schools like Tushingham and Shocklach, the new inclusion fund does not compensate for the impact of changes to the school's block funding. Now, not every child with Send needs 1 to 1 support, but many do need teaching assistants and other staff to help them regulate access learning and benefit from targeted support. If school budgets

14:11

Sonia Kumar MP (Dudley, Labour)

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reforms are fully in place, there will be more money going directly into schools. And the Inclusive Mainstream fund is to build up that

14:13

Saqib Bhatti MP (Meriden and Solihull East, Conservative)

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Friend for her leadership on this really critical issue. As the Secretary of State, my right hon. Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend said, we're investing 3.7 billion into new specialist places, and I will, of course, meet with her to discuss the specific school.

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