Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government how they plan to align Skills Bootcamps funding and delivery with their ambition to position the UK as a global leader in AI and digital innovation; and how they plan to ensure that the workforce is equipped with critical skills to drive economic growth.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education)
Skills Bootcamps are an important offer in the skills landscape. Latest published data shows that in the 2022/23 financial year, the majority of Skills Bootcamps were in the digital sector, with 61% of starts in digital.
This financial year, Skills Bootcamps are available in digital marketing, cyber security, software engineering, data analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. Mayoral Combined Authorities and local areas can use their grant funding for Skills Bootcamps in the digital sector where they have identified a local need.
The department recognises the long term importance of supporting learners and employers to develop digital skills. In addition to Skills Bootcamps, learners and employers can benefit from more than 30 high quality digital apprenticeship standards, including the level 3 cyber security technician standard and the level 5 data engineer standard. Learners can study three Digital T Levels which include AI content and there are 77 Higher Technical Qualifications approved and quality marked as providing the skills demanded in the workplace by employers, including AI skills.
The role of Skills England will include developing a coherent picture of our national and regional skills needs, and shaping the technical education needed to meet that demand.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government how they will ensure that their programmes meet the significant demand for Skills Bootcamps in AI, data and other high-growth areas and continue to deliver high-impact results for learners and employers.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education)
Skills Bootcamps are an important offer in the skills landscape. Latest published data shows that in the 2022/23 financial year, the majority of Skills Bootcamps were in the digital sector, with 61% of starts in digital.
This financial year, Skills Bootcamps are available in digital marketing, cyber security, software engineering, data analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. Mayoral Combined Authorities and local areas can use their grant funding for Skills Bootcamps in the digital sector where they have identified a local need.
The department recognises the long term importance of supporting learners and employers to develop digital skills. In addition to Skills Bootcamps, learners and employers can benefit from more than 30 high quality digital apprenticeship standards, including the level 3 cyber security technician standard and the level 5 data engineer standard. Learners can study three Digital T Levels which include AI content and there are 77 Higher Technical Qualifications approved and quality marked as providing the skills demanded in the workplace by employers, including AI skills.
The role of Skills England will include developing a coherent picture of our national and regional skills needs, and shaping the technical education needed to meet that demand.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what measures they are taking to protect and strengthen partnerships with Skills Bootcamps amid funding uncertainties and to recognise the role of curricula co-designed with employers in driving learner success and meeting economic needs.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education)
Skills Bootcamps are an important offer in the skills landscape and, in the longer term, the department intends to fund Skills Bootcamps through funding Mayoral Combined Authorities (MCAs) and local areas directly. Placing local areas in control of the delivery of all Skills Bootcamps will support better outcomes for learners and employers, with provision based on local need and directed by local knowledge and insights.
At present Skills Bootcamps remain available for learners via national contracts and grant funding in local areas. Existing national contracts remain in place until the end of their term.
The department is not planning any more competitions for national delivery of Skills Bootcamps. National providers have been informed of these changes and we will provide further information on contract extensions and variations in due course.
We will encourage providers to work with their local MCA or Local Enterprise Partnership to find out more about how they can work with them to deliver adult skills training.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government how they plan to ensure that recently reprofiled and returned funds relating to Skills Bootcamps are swiftly and effectively redistributed to providers with a proven track record of delivering results.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education)
Skills Bootcamps are an important offer in the skills landscape and, in the longer term, the department intends to fund Skills Bootcamps through funding Mayoral Combined Authorities (MCAs) and local areas directly. Placing local areas in control of the delivery of all Skills Bootcamps will support better outcomes for learners and employers, with provision based on local need and directed by local knowledge and insights.
At present Skills Bootcamps remain available for learners via national contracts and grant funding in local areas. Existing national contracts remain in place until the end of their term.
The department is not planning any more competitions for national delivery of Skills Bootcamps. National providers have been informed of these changes and we will provide further information on contract extensions and variations in due course.
We will encourage providers to work with their local MCA or Local Enterprise Partnership to find out more about how they can work with them to deliver adult skills training.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to giving short-term contract extensions for high-performing Skills Bootcamps providers that can demonstrate their ability to meet milestones and deliver outcomes by 31 March 2025.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education)
Skills Bootcamps are an important offer in the skills landscape and, in the longer term, the department intends to fund Skills Bootcamps through funding Mayoral Combined Authorities (MCAs) and local areas directly. Placing local areas in control of the delivery of all Skills Bootcamps will support better outcomes for learners and employers, with provision based on local need and directed by local knowledge and insights.
At present Skills Bootcamps remain available for learners via national contracts and grant funding in local areas. Existing national contracts remain in place until the end of their term.
The department is not planning any more competitions for national delivery of Skills Bootcamps. National providers have been informed of these changes and we will provide further information on contract extensions and variations in due course.
We will encourage providers to work with their local MCA or Local Enterprise Partnership to find out more about how they can work with them to deliver adult skills training.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they will provide timelines and guidance for the procurement process to support strategic planning and ensure uninterrupted delivery for the 2025–26 Skills Bootcamp funding.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education)
Skills Bootcamps are an important offer in the skills landscape and, in the longer term, the department intends to fund Skills Bootcamps through funding Mayoral Combined Authorities (MCAs) and local areas directly. Placing local areas in control of the delivery of all Skills Bootcamps will support better outcomes for learners and employers, with provision based on local need and directed by local knowledge and insights.
At present Skills Bootcamps remain available for learners via national contracts and grant funding in local areas. Existing national contracts remain in place until the end of their term.
The department is not planning any more competitions for national delivery of Skills Bootcamps. National providers have been informed of these changes and we will provide further information on contract extensions and variations in due course.
We will encourage providers to work with their local MCA or Local Enterprise Partnership to find out more about how they can work with them to deliver adult skills training.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment the have made of the impact of the delay in implementing sections 61 to 65, 67 and 70 to 74 of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 upon (1) mobile connectivity, (2) data poverty, and (3) regional digital inclusion; and how they plan to mitigate such impacts.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government is committed to implementing all remaining provisions of the Product Security and Telecommunications Act 2022 as soon as possible. These measures will help deliver the benefits of advanced digital connectivity.
Most provisions have already been implemented. Those remaining are complex and technical. The Department will bring forward a consultation on the implementation of sections 61 to 64, including transitional provisions, as soon as possible.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government what are the specific causes for the delay in implementing sections 61 to 65, 67 and 70 to 74 of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022; and what steps are being taken to address them.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government is committed to implementing all remaining provisions of the Product Security and Telecommunications Act 2022 as soon as possible. These measures will help deliver the benefits of advanced digital connectivity.
Most provisions have already been implemented. Those remaining are complex and technical. The Department will bring forward a consultation on the implementation of sections 61 to 64, including transitional provisions, as soon as possible.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they expect to implement sections 61 to 65, 67 and 70 to 74 of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government is committed to implementing all remaining provisions of the Product Security and Telecommunications Act 2022 as soon as possible. These measures will help deliver the benefits of advanced digital connectivity.
Most provisions have already been implemented. Those remaining are complex and technical. The Department will bring forward a consultation on the implementation of sections 61 to 64, including transitional provisions, as soon as possible.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many (1) education technology service providers and (2) education technology solutions the Information Commissioner's Office has audited in the past five years; and what plans they have to make the findings available to the public.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
I refer the noble Lord to the answer I gave on 4th December to Question UIN HL2699. The ICO continue to proactively audit the use of personal data in the edtech sector where evidence supports it. The ICO have audited 10 EdTech service providers, with confirmed plans to audit a further seven, as well as planning to request further information from other providers to support their audit findings.
In respect to the second part of his question, common findings and examples are anonymised and will be published after all audits with service providers are completed. Publication decisions on individual audit findings attributed to named service providers is decided on a case-by-case basis, generally with their consent.