Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Karen Lumley and Sam Gyimah

Monday 7th March 2016 Commons Chamber

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education (Mr Sam Gyimah)]

We are delivering on our commitment to provide working parents of three and four-year-olds with 30 hours of free childcare. To ensure providers can deliver high quality childcare, we will increase funding for childcare by more than £1 billion by 2019. The Childcare Bill has cleared its parliamentary stages. Twenty five local authorities will be piloting the programme in the summer, ahead of full delivery in the summer of 2017.

[Karen Lumley]

Will my hon. Friend join me in congratulating St George’s in Redditch for the fantastic work it already does? Does he agree that the 30 hours of free nursery education will make such a difference to one of the most deprived parts of my town?

[Mr Gyimah]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Families in deprived parts of Redditch will see £5,000 a year as a result of the 30 hours of free childcare. If they need further support, they can get it through the child tax credit system. The 30 hours of free childcare will help families with the cost of living, enable them to work more hours and give children the best start in life.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Karen Lumley and Sam Gyimah

Monday 25th January 2016 Commons Chamber

[Karen Lumley (Redditch) (Con)]

21. What progress the Careers and Enterprise Company has made on improving the provision of careers education and inspiring young people about the world of work.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education (Mr Sam Gyimah)]

The Careers and Enterprise Company has made significant progress since its incorporation last February. It has set up a national network of enterprise advisers to improve the employer-school link, it has launched a £5-million fund to help in areas where careers provision is particularly poor, and it is developing an enterprise passport for all young children in school.

[Karen Lumley]

More than 3,000 apprenticeships have been created in Redditch since 2010. What will the new company do to ensure that there are another 3,000 by 2020?

[Mr Gyimah]

First, I congratulate Redditch on its excellent work to create apprenticeships. That is at the heart of the work this Government are doing. Pupils should be given every opportunity to fulfil their potential. As my hon. Friend knows, the Government will create 3 million apprenticeships. The Careers and Enterprise Company will help young people find the right route to continue their development.