Oral Answers to Questions

Rehman Chishti Excerpts
Monday 21st July 2014

(10 years, 3 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Nick Boles Portrait Nick Boles
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I would be happy to look at the particular financial situation of the college in the hon. Gentleman’s constituency and to see how the damping mechanism that is in place is working in that case.

Rehman Chishti Portrait Rehman Chishti (Gillingham and Rainham) (Con)
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11. What progress has been made on the traineeships programme; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Boles Portrait The Minister for Skills, Enterprise and Equalities (Nick Boles)
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The Government launched traineeships last August to help 16 to 23-year-olds to develop the skills and vital experience they need to get an apprenticeship or a sustainable job. Some 7,400 young people have already started a traineeship.

Rehman Chishti Portrait Rehman Chishti
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I welcome the Minister to his new post, and I know he will do an outstanding job. What commitment have the Government received from major national employers to offer traineeships to young people that will also help to benefit the 640 NEETs in Medway, which covers my constituency?

Nick Boles Portrait Nick Boles
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I am delighted to be able to tell my hon. Friend that Virgin Media, Jaguar Land Rover, Siemens, the BBC, National Grid and Barclays, to name just a few, are committed to setting up and offering traineeships. I will certainly be happy to look into seeing whether any of those could be available to his constituents in the Medway area.