Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to increase awareness and funding for (a) materials and mining programmes of study and (b) science and engineering apprenticeships and qualifications in the quarrying sector.

The government supports education and skills training in the minerals, mining and quarrying sectors through:

• Offering 13 qualifications for 16 to 19-year-olds at Levels 2 to 6 and ​3 Level 2 qualifications in the adult skills fund (ASF) local flexibilities offer.
• ​Investing over £1.4 billion in adult education and skills through the ASF, which covers science and engineering qualifications up to Level 3.
• Increased investment in 16 to 19 education by £400 million in the 2025/26 financial year, plus a further £190 million investment to fund study programmes that include qualifications in science and engineering.
• Allocating higher weighting/funding bands to high-cost subjects such as engineering, in both ASF and 16 to 19 funding.
• There are a range of apprenticeship standards available to support the mining and quarrying sector, including the Level 2 Material processing plant operator, Level 5 Mineral products technician and Level 6 Mine management standards.
• Offering a range of financial support for employers in all sectors, including engineering and manufacturing, to take on young apprentices. This includes a new incentive of up to £2,000 for non-levy paying employers, essentially small and medium-sized enterprises, that take on 16 to 24-year-old apprentices as new employees.
• Providing high quality information to pupils about alternative pathways through careers advice, including up-to-date labour market information and details on apprenticeships, T Levels and other technical qualifications.