Apprentices

Baroness Perry of Southwark Excerpts

Wednesday 10th June 2015 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Neville-Rolfe]

The employer-led approach, with our trailblazers and so on, will actually mean that standards are set that employers want. We have improved quality already, for example by having a minimum duration of 12 months and requiring apprenticeships to be paid jobs. But there is more to do. One thing that we are going to do is hold ourselves to account by reporting every year on progress against the 3-million target, including other details. That plus the target will really make a step change in this area.

[Baroness Perry of Southwark (Con)]

Does my noble friend agree—

[Lord Stoneham of Droxford (LD)]

My Lords—

[Noble Lords]

This side!

[Baroness Perry of Southwark]

Does my noble friend agree that the shortage of skills in the general population is probably one of the most serious problems that this country faces, and that this Government’s attempts to build up the skills base through this increase in apprenticeships should be warmly welcomed by everyone in the House?

[Baroness Neville-Rolfe]

I entirely agree with my noble friend.