Extracts from Parliamentary Proceedings - Oct 12
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Extract from Education Questions (Commons): Kickstart Mr Toby
Perkins (Chesterfield) (Lab): The Minister is right to say that
apprenticeships are more important than ever, but for all the
rhetoric, the way that the Government introduced the apprenticeship
levy saw level 2 and level 3 apprenticeship numbers falling to
their lowest level for a decade before coronavirus. Since then, we
have seen generous incentives in the new Kickstartscheme and much
less generous incentives for...Request free trial
Extract from Education
Questions (Commons): Kickstart
Mr Toby Perkins (Chesterfield) (Lab): The Minister is right to say that apprenticeships are more important than ever, but for all the rhetoric, the way that the Government introduced the apprenticeship levy saw level 2 and level 3 apprenticeship numbers falling to their lowest level for a decade before coronavirus. Since then, we have seen generous incentives in the new Kickstartscheme and much less generous incentives for apprenticeships. For all that the Minister says, why do this Government consistently introduce policies that have the effect of reducing the numbers doing level 2 and 3 apprenticeships? The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education (Gillian Keegan): The hon. Gentleman refers, I think, to the switch from frameworks to standards, which did have an impact on some of the numbers, but it was most important that we focused on the quality of apprenticeships. There were a number of apprenticeships early on, when we introduced the reform of the system, that were not of the desired quality. Young people put their trust in us, in the apprenticeship provider and in the employer, and it is most important that they get very high-quality apprenticeships; that is our focus. Extracts from Lords motion to approve the Apprenticeships (Alternative English Completion Conditions and Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for
Education and Department for International Trade (Baroness
Berridge) (Con):...We all know that, sadly, young people
starting their careers have been severely affected by this
pandemic. As we build back stronger, we will need to ensure that
apprenticeships play a key role in creating jobs and boosting the
skills that employers need. To ensure this, the Government are
already taking action. For example, our plan for jobs set out new
payments for employers who hire a new apprentice between 1 August
and the end of January next year. Where that apprentice is under
25, the employer will receive £2,000, and they will receive
£1,500 where the apprentice is aged 25 or older. This is a strong
encouragement for employers to create new apprenticeship
opportunities in their businesses. Additionally, for young people
seeking the skills to enter the labour market, we are tripling
the number of traineeships we make available and rewarding
employers for offering work placements. For those at risk of
long-term unemployment, we are subsidising employers to create
new short-term roles as part of the Kickstart
Scheme...
My concern, which is shared by many youth organisations, is that
16 and 17 year-olds in particular, and to some extent those who
have just turned 18, are unlikely to be on universal credit, even
though they are NEETs, and do not engage directly with Jobcentre
Plus. Kickstart would be a great opportunity for
this age group, but they do not qualify. What is the solution? It
is to remove the universal credit requirement for 16 and 17
year-olds and to enable local councils—which, by the way, have a
statutory duty regarding NEETs—and other voluntary bodies to
refer 16 and 17 year-olds to the programme... “launched a support service to make sure that apprentices who have lost their jobs can get the help they need to access financial, legal, health and wellbeing support, as well as careers advice.”
I wonder whether the Minister can advise how many have used this
support service so far during the pandemic... |