MPs to debate 18-25 apprenticeships, Wednesday 4 February 2015

UKParliament

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We have posted this on the Employment, Jobseeking & Training Board because we thought some of you might be interested in the topic of debate. We encourage discussion and comments concerning the topic or content of this thread.

18-25 apprenticeships – Opposition Day debate
Expected to commence at around 12.45pm* on Wednesday 4 February in the House of Commons Chamber

How to watch

The debate can be viewed on Parliament TV (Silverlight or Windows Media Player required to stream TV).

Transcripts of proceedings in the House of Commons Chamber are available three hours after they happen in Today’s Commons Debates.

Related content

• The House of Commons Library has produced a briefing note on apprenticeship statistics.

About Opposition Day debates

Opposition days are days when the main subjects for debate are have been chosen by opposition parties.

There are 20 days allocated for this purpose per session and the Opposition generally uses them to raise questions of policy and administration.

*It may begin later if any Urgent Questions or Statements are granted on the day, as Parliamentary business is subject to change.

Thanks
DOT

patman99

Let's hope the discussion includes how to stop companies using the Apprentice Scheme to line their own pockets by constantly 'rolling' apprentices.

A good example of this, is Colchester-based TES. They take-on apprentices for the rail industry. The training is fully-paid for by the Govt. with the caveat that once qualified, the apprentice has a job.
TES give the newly-qualified apprentice 1-2 days work, then let them go.

dori2o

I would hope that as well as addressing the point that patman99 makes which is a very very good point, (Personally I would change the guidelines so that anything with less than a 3 year training scheme could not be classed as an apprenticeship and the minimum qualifying level which the apprentice should be trained to should have to be NVQ level 3) I would hope that some of the debate looks into extending the age limits for funded apprenticeships.

There are plenty of people older than 25 who would benefit greatly from being trained in a trade and this in turn would have a significant benefit on the economy as a whole.

More tradesmen, more engineers, more skilled people in the workforce can only be a good thing for everyone.

UKParliament

Hi MSE’ers

We just wanted to update this thread to let you know that the title of today’s Opposition Day debate has changed from ’18-25 apprenticeships’ to ‘Apprenticeships’.

The motion for debate by MPs is:

“That this House believes that more high-quality apprenticeships are essential to the future prospects of young people and future success of the economy; notes with concern that the number of 19 to 24 year olds starting an apprenticeship has fallen by 6,270 in the last year, that 24 per cent of these apprentices are receiving no formal training, and around one in five are not receiving the appropriate minimum wage; calls on the Government to institute a ten-year national goal to grow the number of apprenticeships for young people and boost the standing and value of technical and vocational education so that the same number of young people that go to university undertake a high-quality apprenticeship; and further calls on the Government to use the money it already spends on procurement to require suppliers for large government contracts to offer new apprenticeship opportunities, safeguard apprenticeship quality with new standards so that all apprenticeships are at at least level three and last a minimum of two years, ensure government plays its part by creating thousands more apprenticeships in the civil service, give city and country regions a role by devolving money for adult skills and give a central role to business through sector bodies to drive up standards and increase apprenticeship places.”

The motion has been tabled in the names of

• Edward Miliband, MP for Doncaster North and Leader of the Labour Party
• Mr Chuka Umunna, MP for Streatham
• Ed Balls, MP for Morely and Outwood
• Tristram Hunt, MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central
• Mr Liam Byrne, MP for Birmingham, Hodge Hill
• Ms Rosie Winterton, MP for Doncaster Central

Thanks

DOT

UKParliament

The debate on apprenticeships that took place on Wednesday 4 February 2015 is now available to watch and read online for those who are interested.

The debate was moved by Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Mr Chuka Umunna. Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Vince Cable, responded on behalf of the Government.

The motion was negatived on division (voted against): Ayes 218 votes and Noes 294 votes.

To read the full debate please go to House of Commons Hansard: Apprenticeships

To see how MPs voted please go to House of Commons Hansard Division No. 148.

The debate is available to watch on Parliament TV: Silverlight or Windows Media Player required to stream TV.

We hope this is useful.

Thanks
DOT