Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans she has for improving the provision of and access to careers guidance.

We want to ensure that all young people have the opportunity to reach their potential and leave education with the skills to succeed in modern Britain. This includes improving the extent and quality of careers guidance by encouraging greater collaboration between schools and colleges and employers. Further information is available online here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/careers-guidance-provision-for-young-people-in-schools

The Chancellor made available £20 million to support improvements in this area in the Autumn Statement. A new Careers and Enterprise Company is on track to increase the level of employer input into schools and colleges, helping young people to access the best advice and inspiration. It will manage a network of enterprise advisers who will assist schools and colleges in choosing effective careers and enterprise organisations to partner with and welcome by stakeholders. This will result in more stimulating and improved activity in areas where current provision is poorest.

We have established a clear accountability system. Revised guidance clarifies our expectations of schools and colleges in relation to their duty to secure independent careers guidance and will take effect from September 2015. Ofsted is giving a higher priority to careers guidance in school inspections. We publish destination measures which help schools and colleges to be held to account locally and inform choices by parents and students.