Business of the House

Andrew Jones Excerpts
Thursday 21st March 2024

(1 month, 1 week ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Watch Debate Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Penny Mordaunt Portrait Penny Mordaunt
- View Speech - Hansard - - - Excerpts

The hon. Gentleman will know how to secure a debate. He has just secured a debate on excess deaths, and if he follows the same procedure, I am sure he will have good luck in securing another debate.

Andrew Jones Portrait Andrew Jones (Harrogate and Knaresborough) (Con)
- View Speech - Hansard - -

In Harrogate and Knaresborough, we have had more than 12,000 apprenticeship starts since 2010, and this week’s announcement of changes to apprenticeship policy was positive and will help those numbers grow. What I liked particularly was that it will make it easier for SMEs to offer apprenticeships. The main message I hear from businesses is that it is challenging to fill vacancies and bring in new talent. Can we have a debate about SMEs, apprenticeships and skills policy to give them the boost they need to fill the vacancies they are creating?