Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andrew Stephenson and John Hayes

Monday 11th January 2016 Commons Chamber

[Andrew Stephenson (Pendle) (Con)]

T7. Following the horrendous attacks in Paris, what steps are the Government taking to ensure that young people’s minds in the UK are not poisoned and that they are not radicalised by the poisonous ideology put forward by Daesh?

[The Minister for Security (Mr John Hayes)]

My hon. Friend will know that much of this is done online, where there are those who are seeking to corrupt people to inspire them to murder and maim their neighbours. Since February 2010, more than 120,000 pieces of unlawful terrorist material have been taken down from the internet, and our Prevent programme works with communities, schools, colleges and local authorities across the country. Mr Speaker, I am intolerant—intolerant of that wickedness which seeks to do so much harm.

Energy Tariffs

Debate between Andrew Stephenson and John Hayes

Thursday 18th October 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hayes]

As I mentioned, transparency and what I described as accessibility or explicability are crucial—the hon. Gentleman is right about that. People need to know how they can get the best deals. We have done a lot of work on that, but we need to do a lot more. We need a simplification of the process, and that has been debated in this House for a considerable time. He makes a good point, which was also made earlier, and we will be drawing it to the close attention of the energy companies and considering it as we develop our own thinking.

[Andrew Stephenson (Pendle) (Con)]

While many households in Pendle are worried about being able to afford their energy bills this winter, millions of pounds available through the Government’s Warm Front scheme go unclaimed. The same applies for the warm home discount, which, as the Minister said, alone represents more than £1.1 billion of support for the poorest households. If these proposals to give people the lowest energy tariff are going to be done through people’s energy bills, may I ask that we take the opportunity also to improve the information contained in those bills about those two important schemes?

[Mr Hayes]

My hon. Friend will know that one of the features of the energy marketplace in recent years has been a concentration of the number of companies involved. That was not predicted at the time of privatisation; people expected a more plural market, and the competition and downward price pressure that that brings. While the number of companies has shrunk, the number of tariffs has simultaneously grown, by, I understand, something like four-hundredfold. That is not sensible. Whatever the intention, it is leading to a degree of confusion which I think is unhelpful. Better information on bills and a simplification of tariffs, targeted in a way that allows people to get the best possible arrangement, are an absolute priority.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andrew Stephenson and John Hayes

Monday 3rd September 2012 Commons Chamber

[Andrew Stephenson (Pendle) (Con)]

T5. My right hon. Friend will know that schools will shortly have a duty to provide comprehensive and independent careers advice to their pupils. What support will he provide to schools to ensure that that they meet these important new obligations?

[The Minister for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning (Mr John Hayes)]

My hon. Friend will know that this Government take careers advice very seriously, which is why we established the National Careers Service. He will also know that we have not only changed the law, ensuring that schools secure independent advice and guidance, but introduced statutory guidance for schools and, furthermore, a practical guide to how they should go about it. This is a record that we can be proud of and that the whole House should enjoy.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andrew Stephenson and John Hayes

Thursday 24th May 2012 Commons Chamber

[Andrew Stephenson (Pendle) (Con)]

5. What recent progress he has made on the recruitment of business mentors.

[The Minister for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning (Mr John Hayes)]

The value of mentoring guides all we do. After all, it is at the heart of the Government’s flagship apprenticeship programme. Business mentoring is just as important and “Get Mentoring” is a fantastic example of businesses working together. No fewer than 11,000 volunteers have already signed up and, buoyed by that, I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on his personal commitment and support for this exciting initiative.

[Andrew Stephenson]

As ever, the Minister is backing Britain and backing business, but as he often says, we can always do more. What does he expect the increase to be in the number of mentors during the final part of this year?

[Mr Hayes]

I do not know, Mr Speaker, whether you have yet had the chance to see my hon. Friend’s local newspaper, the Burnley Express. In that paper, he says:

“Mentoring is a great way for business leaders to invest in and give back to their communities.”

The truth is that we intend in the short term—by the end of this year—to grow that number from 11,000 to 26,000 mentors.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andrew Stephenson and John Hayes

Thursday 27th October 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hayes]

I should be happy to do that. The hon. Gentleman has made an interesting point, and I will certainly consider doing what he suggests. Moreover, I should be happy to meet him and anyone he wants to bring to my Department, with my officials, so that we can take the matter further.

[Andrew Stephenson (Pendle) (Con)]

7. What steps his Department is taking in response to recent job losses announced by BAE Systems.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andrew Stephenson and John Hayes

Monday 23rd May 2011 Commons Chamber

[The Minister for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning (Mr John Hayes)]

That is a perfectly fair question. It is important that colleges have information as soon as possible to make the kind of provision that the hon. Gentleman suggests. I will ensure that further discussions take place between my officials and colleges to guarantee that they have that information.

[Andrew Stephenson (Pendle) (Con)]

T8. Does the Secretary of State agree with Ofqual that the OCR—Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations—GCSE history pilot should end? Shaun Connelly, the head of humanities at Colne Primet high school in my constituency, has contacted me, as he believes that the course has allowed students of all abilities to achieve their potential in history.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andrew Stephenson and John Hayes

Thursday 14th October 2010 Commons Chamber

[Andrew Stephenson (Pendle) (Con)]

6. How many apprenticeship places his Department plans to fund in 2010-11.

[The Minister for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning (Mr John Hayes)]

Just days after taking office we announced—

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Hayes]

Yes; we appreciate the hon. Gentleman’s point. I have asked my officials to look closely at these matters. We appreciate that some of the supply-side barriers to small businesses, in particular, getting involved in apprenticeships need to be lifted. We know that to rebuild the apprenticeship programme after the sorry state it was left in by the previous regime—I do not want to be unnecessarily unkind, but I emphasise the word “unnecessarily”—we will have to do a lot of work to involve more businesses to satisfy our demands and learner wishes.

[Andrew Stephenson]

I thank the Minister for the answer that he has just given my hon. Friend the Member for Burnley (Gordon Birtwistle). How will the Minister ensure that apprenticeship schemes are made available to all people, not just young people?

[Mr Hayes]

My hon. Friend is right that we need to consider closely not just the apprenticeships that are available to people as they leave school or college, but those for people who want to reskill or upskill. Lord Leitch, in a report that the previous Administration commissioned, made it clear that that is vital because of the demographics, the challenges that we face and the competitive pressures from those countries that have invested in apprenticeships. We will certainly take his remarks on board.