Oral Answers to Questions

Flick Drummond Excerpts

Monday 6th December 2021 Commons Chamber

[Henry Smith (Crawley) (Con)]

9. What measures his Department is taking to strengthen the value of technical qualifications.

[Mrs Flick Drummond (Meon Valley) (Con)]

23. What steps his Department is taking to strengthen the value of technical qualifications.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education (Alex Burghart)]

Our review of technical education at levels 2 and 3 is providing new routes to work, ensuring that all students have qualifications, designed with employers, that meet the needs of the economy.

--- Later in debate ---

[Alex Burghart]

Any invitation to Crawley is too good to miss, and I would be absolutely delighted to come and see the roll-out of T-levels in my hon. Friend’s constituency. In my time as a Minister, I have had the pleasure of seeing many such colleges, and students and tutors are united in their enthusiasm for the project on which they have embarked.

[Mrs Drummond]

If the Government are keen on improving skills, levelling up and improving technical qualifications, including for green jobs, is this not the time to seriously consider having a 14 to 18 curriculum so that students can study these subjects in depth?

[Alex Burghart]

My hon. Friend is a powerful advocate for the position that she has just outlined. The Government are committed to providing young people with technical skills and the knowledge to progress. Indeed, strong university technical colleges such as the outstanding UTC in Portsmouth are succeeding in equipping their students with these vital skills. I understand that she met my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to discuss this the other day.