Oral Answers to Questions

Alan Mak Excerpts

Tuesday 6th November 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hammond]

The hon. Gentleman might have been too busy preparing his question for today and in the process have missed the industrial energy efficiency fund that we have committed to introduce.

[Alan Mak (Havant) (Con)]

10. What fiscal steps he is taking to provide funding for skills and training.

[The Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Elizabeth Truss)]

By 2019-20, we will be spending £2.5 billion on apprenticeships in England every year through the apprenticeship levy. In this Budget, we have given employers more flexibility to deploy it as they see best.

[Alan Mak]

Greater investment in STEM—science, technology, engineering and maths—skills is key to boosting employment in our growing digital economy. What support can the Chief Secretary give to ensure more training is available to our next generation of scientists, engineers and tech entrepreneurs?

[Elizabeth Truss]

My hon. Friend is right. We know that people with STEM skills have higher earnings. That is why we put more money into the maths premium last year to encourage more students to study that subject from 16 to 18. This year, we have launched a new programme to enable the better retention of maths and physics teachers in our schools.