Oral Answers to Questions

Michael McCann Excerpts

Thursday 6th March 2014 Commons Chamber

[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.

[Matthew Hancock]

As I have said, we include apprentices in procurement contracts. Of course procurement must put value for money at the top of the list to ensure that we spend taxpayers’ money wisely—which, these days, we do—but we must also ensure that, in national apprenticeship week, we celebrate the value that apprentices can bring, and the value that they can often add to projects.

[Mr McCann]

I do not thank the Minister for his answer, because he did not answer the question. When he is considering whether to boost apprenticeships through the use of procurement, what is a higher priority for him: cheaper contracts, or the supply of apprenticeship opportunities to our people?

[Matthew Hancock]

As I have said, we are including apprentices in procurement contracts through Crossrail and High Speed 2. We will also be establishing a nuclear college, so that it will be local people who, through apprenticeships, ensure that Britain maintains the skills that will enable us to build infrastructure such as the new civil nuclear power stations.

--- Later in debate ---

[Michael Fallon]

I am glad that my hon. Friend is pleased with the draft map. The Government are considering responses made in stage two of the assisted areas consultation to the draft map and the final map for 2014 to 2020 is due to come into effect on 1 July this year.

[Mr Michael McCann (East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow) (Lab)]

T7. A major hotel chain in my constituency employs a conveyor belt of young people. They are all on zero-hours contracts, tips are pooled and loosely accounted for and if workers have the audacity to question anything they are rewarded —punished—with fewer shifts. When will the Secretary of State stop consulting and start doing something about exploitation through zero-hours contracts?

[Jenny Willott]

As I said in answer to a previous question, we are in the process of consulting. It is important that we get this right so that we do not penalise employees by getting the rules wrong. Many employees benefit from zero-hours contracts and we need to ensure that we take the right action rather than hasty action. We will respond to the consultation and make proposals to get rid of the exploitative factor in zero-hours contracts.