Oral Answers to Questions

Angela Eagle Excerpts

Tuesday 6th February 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hunt]

I thank my hon. Friend for his excellent question. It will strengthen my hand with the Department for Education, which decides what levels of funding are made available from the Institute for Apprenticeships. It has actually given us the highest level of funding, at £27,000, but we never say no to more.

[Ms Angela Eagle (Wallasey) (Lab)]

But will the Secretary of State admit that he made a basic error by scrapping nurse bursaries, which has led to a 23% fall in the number of people applying to nurse courses? Why does he not look at that if he wants to widen the entrance into nursing?

[Mr Hunt]

I am not sure whether the hon. Lady was listening to the answer I just gave, but the truth is—

[Ms Eagle]

I always listen to you.

[Mr Hunt]

I am most grateful. That is a very rare compliment, so I shall savour it. I would gently say to her that the point about nurse degree apprenticeships is that it is possible to transition into nursing from being a healthcare assistant without any fees being paid at all. That is why it is a huge and highly significant change.