Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Catherine McKinnell and Michael McCann(10 years, 8 months ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Catherine McKinnell (Newcastle upon Tyne North) (Lab)
8. If he will make it his policy to better use procurement by his Department to increase apprenticeship opportunities.
Mr Michael McCann (East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow) (Lab)
9. If he will make it his policy to better use procurement by his Department to increase apprenticeship opportunities.
The Minister for Skills and Enterprise (Matthew Hancock)
We consider opportunities for the provision of apprenticeships on an individual basis. Last month, however, we announced a new college to train the next generation of world-class engineers working on the construction of High Speed 2. We hope that that will create up to 2,000 apprentices. Crossrail is the largest procurement project across government—indeed, it is the largest construction project in Europe—and has a target of 400 apprentices over the life cycle of the project as part of its procurement.