Apprenticeships: Network Rail
Debate between Lord Boswell of Aynho and Baroness Wilcox
Baroness Wilcox
The noble Baroness makes a good point. We are aware of it and we are monitoring it carefully.
Lord Boswell of Aynho
My Lords, will my noble friend undertake to ensure that her department works closely with the Department for Education in considering the recommendations trailed in the press today from the excellent Professor Alison Wolf in relation to vocational education? Will she look in particular at the package of incentives which may be necessary to deliver high quality apprenticeships for young people over and above some of the perhaps less well founded quasi vocational qualifications?
Baroness Wilcox
My noble friend is referring of course to Professor Wolf’s review, which was commissioned by this Government. It raises a number of interesting points. We are considering her recommendations and will issue a response in the near future.
Financial Reporting Council: Annual Reports and Accounts
Debate between Lord Boswell of Aynho and Baroness Wilcox
Lord Boswell of Aynho
My Lords, is there not a danger, which perhaps my noble friend can take on board, that lay investors will be snowed out with too much information and that items may be smuggled through when they are not particularly obvious? Can she counsel all companies to produce clear, intelligible and straightforward summary material as well as the full monty?
Baroness Wilcox
Yes, I think that we are all aware that these reports are difficult to work one’s way through; I have found the same myself, as have we all. The narrative reporting consultation is going on at the moment—that is the bit that comes at the front, before the financials. If we can get these things clearer and cleaner, we would all benefit. I thank my noble friend for the advice.