Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Vince Cable and Gordon Henderson

Thursday 8th November 2012 Commons Chamber

[Vince Cable]

We very much speak with one voice on this subject. I encouraged the Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change, the hon. Member for South Holland and The Deepings (Mr Hayes) aggressively to promote apprenticeships. I am sure that when he has settled into his new job, he will be an enthusiastic advocate of wind farms.

[Gordon Henderson (Sittingbourne and Sheppey) (Con)]

9. What steps his Department is taking to encourage participants in further and higher education to gain experience and training in business and industry.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Vince Cable and Gordon Henderson

Thursday 3rd June 2010 Commons Chamber

[Vince Cable]

This Government are expanding apprenticeships very rapidly in their first few days in office. Of course the hon. Gentleman is absolutely right on his basic point that apprenticeships are not only good for the very many young people who would otherwise be unemployed, but good for the productivity of the economy.

[Gordon Henderson (Sittingbourne and Sheppey) (Con)]

May I ask the Secretary of State to give an assurance to manufacturing companies, particularly those such as Thamesteel in my constituency, which need to recruit people with high ability as apprentices, that the apprenticeships scheme that we are proposing will not be targeted only at people with less ability?

[Vince Cable]

Indeed; the hon. Gentleman makes an excellent point. We are talking about the full range of skills in this regard. If he wishes to pursue his point in relation to his constituency, the National Apprenticeship Service is there to help him to steer the scheme in the right direction.