Education

Robert Halfon Excerpts

Wednesday 23rd November 2016 Ministerial Corrections

[Jake Berry]

Sian Nixon, the modern languages teacher, is one of the many inspirational teachers at Haslingden High School. She has invited me and a local manufacturer to go into the school and talk about the value of modern languages before pupils make their GCSE choices. Will the Government say what can be done to encourage more businesses to enter schools, in particular to promote apprenticeships in areas of high manufacturing worth such as Rossendale and Darwen?

[Robert Halfon]

I know that my hon. Friend is an incredible constituency champion on skills and careers. I hope that when he goes into that school he will talk about apprenticeships as well as modern languages. We have created the Careers and Enterprise Company, with £90 million of investment. It has 1,200 enterprise advisers to help more than 900 schools interact with businesses and have work experience and other career options.

[Official Report, 14 November 2016, Vol. 617, c. 13.]

Letter of correction from Robert Halfon:

An error has been identified in the response I gave to the hon. Member for Rossendale and Darwen (Jake Berry) during Questions to the Secretary of State for Education.

The correct response should have been:

[Robert Halfon]

I know that my hon. Friend is an incredible constituency champion on skills and careers. I hope that when he goes into that school he will talk about apprenticeships as well as modern languages. We have created the Careers and Enterprise Company, and have provided £90 million of investment for careers provision. It has 1,200 enterprise advisers to help more than 900 schools interact with businesses and have work experience and other career options.

Apprenticeships

[Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South) (Lab)]

To promote apprenticeships in schools, strong careers guidance is critical. However, this month’s cross-party verdict from the two Select Committee Chairs who have looked at this, the hon. Member for Stroud (Neil Carmichael) and my hon. Friend the Member for Hartlepool (Mr Wright), is that

“Ministers appear to be burying their heads in the sand while careers guidance fails young people”.

Will this Minister—the third Minister to whom I have put this question—back the Select Committee’s recommendation to restore proper work experience in schools at key stage 4? Will he lift his head out of the sand?

--- Later in debate ---

[Robert Halfon]

I suggest the hon. Gentleman stops being a doom-monger and becomes an apprentice-monger. We are providing the Careers and Enterprise Company with £90 million to boost career provision in schools, with £20 million for investment. The National Careers Service is getting £77 million to help people with careers. We have thousands of enterprise advisers in schools all over the country. This is what the Careers and Enterprise Company is all about. The Government are investing in careers, investing in skills and investing in apprenticeships.

[Official Report, 14 November 2016, Vol. 617, c. 14.]

Letter of correction from Robert Halfon:

An error has been identified in the response I gave to the hon. Member for Blackpool South (Gordon Marsden) during Questions to the Secretary of State for Education.

The correct response should have been:

[Robert Halfon]

I suggest the hon. Gentleman stops being a doom-monger and becomes an apprentice-monger. We are providing £90 million to boost career provision in schools, with £20 million for investment. The National Careers Service is getting £77 million to help people with careers. We have thousands of enterprise advisers in schools all over the country. This is what the Careers and Enterprise Company is all about. The Government are investing in careers, investing in skills and investing in apprenticeships.