Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Anne Milton and Tom Pursglove

Thursday 7th February 2019 Commons Chamber

[Tom Pursglove (Corby) (Con)]

One barrier to accessing skills, training and apprenticeships is sometimes just knowledge of them in the first place. What more does my right hon. Friend believe that we can do to help to spread the word so that more people across our country can access those opportunities?

[The Minister for Apprenticeships and Skills (Anne Milton)]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. It is about understanding the possibilities. We are running two projects: the 5 Cities project is aimed at increasing the diversity of those seeking apprenticeships; and the other one works with young people in more disadvantaged areas to make sure that they have the opportunity to get into higher-paid professions that they would not normally consider. We therefore are doing more, and it must not be forgotten either that an apprenticeship is a paid job—it is a job primarily. We are encouraging employers to advertise vacancies and embedding apprenticeships in all the careers advice we give to young people.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Anne Milton and Tom Pursglove

Monday 17th December 2018 Commons Chamber

[Tom Pursglove (Corby) (Con)]

A fortnight ago, I was delighted to visit Tresham College in Corby to meet many of its brilliant engineering apprentices. Would my right hon. Friend be willing to join me on another visit to share in that success? What is being done to promote such opportunities more widely?

[Anne Milton]

I would be delighted to join my hon. Friend on a visit to Corby. We are seeing the success that he describes right across the country. It is an awful shame that Opposition Members do not join us in congratulating good colleges on the work that they do.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Anne Milton and Tom Pursglove

Monday 14th May 2018 Commons Chamber

[Anne Milton]

I will have to write to my right hon. Friend about that. It is an area that falls between my portfolio and that of the School Standards Minister.

[Tom Pursglove (Corby) (Con)]

Daily Mile initiatives are good for our young people’s physical and mental wellbeing, attainment, and readiness to learn in the classroom. Will the Minister therefore undertake to look at how these initiatives can be more widely rolled out in schools and also supported across Government?

[Anne Milton]

The School Standards Minister will have heard my hon. Friend’s question. This is not just about classroom learning—there is no doubt about that. There are all sorts of initiatives that make a difference not only to how much children learn but their readiness to learn.