Oral Answers to Questions

Alex Sobel Excerpts

Monday 17th July 2023 Commons Chamber

[Robert Halfon]

My hon. Friend is learned in these matters, but they are for the Home Office. We are developing our digital skills at home with amazing digital apprenticeships. Half of our 670 apprenticeship standards are in STEM subjects, and there are T-levels and higher technical qualifications in digital. We are spending on the digital skills that our local people need. We have to give them the skills they need as well.

[Alex Sobel (Leeds North West) (Lab/Co-op)]

16. What steps she is taking to increase partnerships between further education colleges and higher education institutions to help increase learning opportunities.

[The Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education (Robert Halfon)]

We are transforming tertiary education by building state of the art prestigious institute of technology colleges, backed by £300 million and led by further education and higher education businesses. We have also introduced the lifelong loan entitlement—it is in the House of Lords at the moment. That will allow higher and further education to collaborate, offering short courses and the transfer of courses between FE and HE institutions.

[Alex Sobel]

Last week, I met representatives of the National Farmers Union at the Great Yorkshire Show. We discussed the great need for new skills and a skilled workforce in areas such as agro-ecology. What work is his Department doing to link specialist agricultural colleges with the non-specialist FE and HE sector?