Oral Answers to Questions

Jane Hunt Excerpts

Monday 6th December 2021 Commons Chamber

[Suzanne Webb (Stourbridge) (Con)]

15. What steps his Department is taking to support young people into high quality jobs.

[Jane Hunt (Loughborough) (Con)]

17. What steps his Department is taking to support young people into high quality jobs.

[The Secretary of State for Education (Nadhim Zahawi)]

We are supporting young people to ensure that they have the skills for high-quality, secure and fulfilling employment through the plan for jobs package, which is £500 million of Department for Education funding. That includes, of course, a £3,000 cash boost for employers hiring new apprentices, which we are extending to the end of January.

--- Later in debate ---

[Nadhim Zahawi]

I totally agree. That is why our reforms are focused on giving people the skills they need to get great jobs in sectors of the economy that need them and on putting employers at the heart of our skills system, and I hope of course that one day I will visit a gigafactory in my hon. Friend’s constituency.

[Jane Hunt]

Loughborough College already does an amazing job in providing high-quality skills to people of all ages in Loughborough. However, it is going one better by using Government funding to build a new T-levels centre. Will my right hon. Friend agree to visit the site to promote the great work being done to make ready for this new chapter for education in Loughborough?

[Nadhim Zahawi]

I am delighted that Loughborough College has benefited from our T-levels capital fund to create fantastic new facilities. I would be happy to visit its new T-levels building and to see where it is now offering these world-class qualifications in digital, construction, health, education and childcare.