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Written Question
Electricians and Plumbing: Vocational Education
Thursday 10th July 2025

Asked by: Steff Aquarone (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to encourage more young people to undertake vocational training to become (a) plumbers and (b) electricians.

Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The department continues to make available education and training opportunities in electrical and plumbing sectors, including:

  • A range of apprenticeships, including the level 3 plumbing and domestic heating technician standard and the level 3 domestic electrician standard. We are also developing foundation apprenticeships in priority sectors, including construction from August.
  • A T Level in Building Services Engineering for Construction provides students with the core knowledge and skills needed for entry to a range of occupations in the electrical and plumbing sectors.
  • Investment of an additional £625 million in a construction skills package, expected to deliver up to 60,000 additional skilled construction workers, including in electrical and plumbing, this Parliament. This includes establishing ten technical excellence colleges specialising in construction skills, opening in September 2025.

The department continues to raise awareness amongst young people of the vocational training that is available. Secondary schools have legal requirements to provide independent careers guidance, including at least six opportunities for providers of technical education or apprenticeships to speak to all pupils. Our government-funded network of Careers Hubs, coordinated by the Careers and Enterprise Company, supports schools and colleges to maximise these opportunities.

Written Question
Vocational Education
Thursday 10th July 2025

Asked by: Steff Aquarone (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of trends in the level of drop-outs from vocational courses; and what steps she is taking to increase course completion rates.

Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The department's Qualification Achievement Rates (QARs) include official statistics on levels of achievement for a range of qualifications, including vocational learning. Latest published statistics show overall achievement rates within the 19+ education and training cohort have increased from 86.8% in 2022/23 to 87.4% in 2023/24, an increase of 0.6 percentage points. Compared with 2021/22, they are up by 1.2 percentage points. Links to QAR data from current and previous years is available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/introduction-to-qualification-achievement-rates-qars.

Retention rates are also improving at ages 16 to 18. The retained and assessed rate for students who finished their T Level across 16 subjects in summer 2024 was up five percentage points from the previous year in over 10 subjects. The rate for large Vocational Technical Qualifications was up three percentage points. Further details on provisional T Level results for the 2023/24 academic year are available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/provisional-t-level-results/2023-24.

Alongside T Levels, the department continues to develop and improve qualifications to ensure that they meet the needs of learners. Newly reformed qualifications will become available for delivery at levels 2 and 3 at the start of the next academic year, and we are in the process of approving new level 3 qualifications for delivery from August 2026. These are high-quality, aligned to occupational standards in technical routes, and offer learners clear routes to higher education or skilled employment.

Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 09 Jul 2025
Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill

"I look forward to the shareable case study from Clywd North when it is available, because things can be done, and doubtless they are being done, but we need to be doing them in every corner of the country and every coastal community around our country. I hope the Government …..."
Steff Aquarone - View Speech

View all Steff Aquarone (LD - North Norfolk) contributions to the debate on: Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 09 Jul 2025
Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill

"I completely agree that that barrier must be addressed, and the business case is so clear and easy to see. The Government should focus on supporting employment opportunities in our coastal communities by investing in our tourism and hospitality sectors, supporting training and development opportunities, and fixing our broken transport …..."
Steff Aquarone - View Speech

View all Steff Aquarone (LD - North Norfolk) contributions to the debate on: Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 09 Jul 2025
Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill

"It is an honour to follow the hon. Member for South West Norfolk (Terry Jermy), who is my constituency neighbour. I welcome and value his testimony and his authenticity of purpose in what he said.

I wish to speak in favour of my new clause 5, which I am pleased …..."
Steff Aquarone - View Speech

View all Steff Aquarone (LD - North Norfolk) contributions to the debate on: Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill
Division Vote (Commons)
9 Jul 2025 - Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill - View Vote Context
Steff Aquarone (LD) voted No - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 65 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 0 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 336 Noes - 242
Division Vote (Commons)
9 Jul 2025 - Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill - View Vote Context
Steff Aquarone (LD) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 64 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 0 Liberal Democrat No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 130 Noes - 443
Division Vote (Commons)
9 Jul 2025 - Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill - View Vote Context
Steff Aquarone (LD) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 65 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 0 Liberal Democrat No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 149 Noes - 334
Division Vote (Commons)
9 Jul 2025 - Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill - View Vote Context
Steff Aquarone (LD) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 65 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 0 Liberal Democrat No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 175 Noes - 401
Division Vote (Commons)
9 Jul 2025 - Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill - View Vote Context
Steff Aquarone (LD) voted No - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 63 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 0 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 335 Noes - 135