Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Michelle Donelan and Damian Hinds

Tuesday 19th January 2016 Commons Chamber

[Michelle Donelan (Chippenham) (Con)]

Does the Minister agree that supporting engineering and manufacturing is absolutely essential to our economy and productivity, and that we must do all we can to address the skills gap that is threatening local jobs and businesses in my constituency and around the country?

[Damian Hinds]

I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend about the importance of engineering. The evidence of that was shown in the spending review and the autumn statement, with enhanced support for science as well as the apprenticeship levy, which is an important structural change in the way we invest in our skills base.