Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Rob Butler and Robert Halfon

Monday 12th June 2023 Commons Chamber

[Mrs Flick Drummond (Meon Valley) (Con)]

15. Whether her Department is taking steps to increase the provision of specialist technical education at secondary schools.

[The Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education (Robert Halfon)]

To complement our reformed, more rigorous GCSEs, we are ensuring that high-quality vocational and technical qualifications are available. We have introduced new technical awards at key stage 4 in engineering, technology and many other subjects, and we have our own prestigious T-level offerings for those from 16 years old onwards.

[Rob Butler]

I am very proud to have Aylesbury University Technical College in my constituency. It provides excellent technical education for young students on a specialist pathway, but not everywhere has those specialist schools. As such, a proposal has been made to my right hon. Friend’s Department to introduce UTC-style courses in mainstream schools for some pupils who are perhaps better suited to that type of education at key stage 4. What progress has the Department made in assessing the feasibility of such courses, which would provide the qualifications, employment skills and work experience that are so important to today’s economy?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Rob Butler and Robert Halfon

Monday 27th February 2023 Commons Chamber

[Rob Butler (Aylesbury) (Con)]

T3. JCL Glass, a really successful family business in my constituency, wants to offer apprenticeships, but its directors tell me that there is no scheme in the glass manufacturing industry. Will my right hon. Friend set out what efforts are being made to create apprenticeships in sectors that do not yet have them, and how companies that want to be involved, such as JCL Glass, can help to develop them?

[The Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education (Robert Halfon)]

Employers have developed 660 high-quality apprenticeships, including 150 in the engineering and manufacturing sector. Where employers identify the need for new and emerging skills, including in green jobs, they can work with the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education, which stands ready to work with employers to introduce new apprenticeships. I would encourage JCL Glass to speak to the institute about this.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Rob Butler and Robert Halfon

Monday 16th January 2023 Commons Chamber

[Robert Halfon]

That is wishful thinking on the part of the hon. Gentleman. The Government are increasing investment in apprenticeships to £2.7 billion by 2024-25. We will be investing an extra £1.6 billion in 16-to-19 education over the same period of time. That includes £500 million a year for T-levels. I mentioned the £290 million being spent on institutes of technology and we have committed £1.5 billion to an upgrade of the FE college estate in England over the next few years. The Government are investing in, and championing, further education and skills. The hon. Gentleman should recognise that.

[Rob Butler (Aylesbury) (Con)]

6. What steps her Department is taking to help improve outcomes in alternative provision settings. [R]

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Rob Butler and Robert Halfon

Monday 28th November 2022 Commons Chamber

[Rob Butler (Aylesbury) (Con)]

T3. Like many parts of the country, Aylesbury has too many people who are economically inactive despite the overall unemployment rate being extremely low. We also have many job vacancies where we need people with new or different skills. How can my right hon. Friend’s Department ensure that courses in schools, university technical colleges and colleges equip young people with the right skills for today’s job market?

[The Minister of State, Department for Education (Robert Halfon)]

The first thing we need to do is invest, and we are investing an extra £3.8 billion over this Parliament in skills. We have introduced the T-levels and higher technical qualifications. We are strengthening careers advice and, of course, championing apprenticeships. I am pleased to say that apprenticeship starts have increased by 8.9% over the past year.