Question to the HM Treasury:

What fiscal steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to support people who are out of work to gain skills to find new, well-paid jobs.

The Plan for Jobs supports people to gain the skills needed to access high quality jobs. The Chancellor provided £111 million to triple traineeships, £17 million to expand sector-based work academies, and £32 million to boost the National Careers Service’s capacity.

At the Spending Review, the Government announced £95 million to fund free courses for adults in subjects with strong employment prospects and £43 million to provide 16,000 places on employer-led skills bootcamps.

At Budget, the Chancellor announced £126 million more for traineeships, and increased incentives for hiring apprentices to £3,000.