Contributions
1,153 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDKeep Britain Working Review: Government ResponseI am pleased to make a statement today, jointly with the Business and Trade Secretary, on Sir Charlie Mayfield’s Keep Britain Working review, which he has submitted to the…05 Nov 2025HANSARDYouth Guarantee Trailblazer SchemeThe trailblazers are up and running and have been delivering support for young people since earlier this year. That includes, for example, mental health support and flexible work…27 Oct 2025HANSARDYouth Guarantee Trailblazer SchemeMy hon. Friend is absolutely right to draw attention to the importance of the energy transition. As I said, the Scottish Government are receiving the largest spending review…27 Oct 2025HANSARDYouth Guarantee Trailblazer SchemeThere should be no part of the United Kingdom in which we do not give young people the maximum opportunity. I had a good working relationship with the Northern Ireland Executive…27 Oct 2025HANSARDPension Age Increase: Institute for Fiscal Studies ReportThe clocks went back at the weekend, and you nearly put them forward again, Mr Speaker. I am pleased to be here answering my first set of questions as the Secretary of State for…27 Oct 2025HANSARDPension Age Increase: Institute for Fiscal Studies ReportI have to remind the hon. Member that when his party was in government, it supported the acceleration in the rise of the basic state pension age, and that has given rise to some…27 Oct 2025HANSARDPension Age Increase: Institute for Fiscal Studies ReportWe hope that those entitled to the basic state pension receive a seamless and fast service. This is a pension that people contribute to throughout their life, and when they reach…27 Oct 2025HANSARDPost-16 Education: Skills Needed in the EconomySkills are vital to give young people opportunity, for economic growth and to our country’s renewal. That is why, as part of our youth guarantee, we are increasing short courses…27 Oct 2025HANSARDPost-16 Education: Skills Needed in the EconomyMy hon. Friend has spoken often about this, and I believe that he started his career as an apprentice. As a former Rolls-Royce worker, he will have noted the skills White Paper,…27 Oct 2025HANSARDPost-16 Education: Skills Needed in the EconomyI welcome that question, as my hon. Friend raises a very important point. If we are going to have equal status for higher education and apprenticeship routes, we should look at…27 Oct 2025HANSARDPost-16 Education: Skills Needed in the EconomyThe right hon. Gentleman is right to say that the business voice and employers’ voice is very important in this. When I wrote the new remit letter to Skills England, I asked it to…27 Oct 2025HANSARDPost-16 Education: Skills Needed in the EconomyThe apprenticeships and skills budget, like every other budget, demands choices. We are choosing to prioritise the level that we need in the economy, and the areas where the value…27 Oct 2025HANSARDYoung People: Employment, Education and TrainingWhen we came to office, almost 1 million young people were not in education, employment or training. This Government are determined to offer young people proper opportunities. Our…27 Oct 2025HANSARDYoung People: Employment, Education and TrainingNot for the first time, we have to point out that the Scottish Government have benefited from the biggest financial settlement since the introduction of devolution. It should not…27 Oct 2025HANSARDYoung People: Employment, Education and TrainingI am always having conversations with my friends in the Treasury. I agree with the hon. Member that flexibility and some short courses in the skills and training system are very…27 Oct 2025HANSARDYoung People: Employment, Education and TrainingThe hon. Lady has a short memory. The Government in which she served presided over the biggest slowdown in living standards in recent memory, and there are 358,000 more people in…27 Oct 2025HANSARDYoung People: Employment, Education and TrainingSince we came into office, interest rates have been cut five times, helping businesses and households. According to Lloyds, business confidence is at a nine-year high, and there…27 Oct 2025HANSARDWorkforce SkillsThe skills White Paper, which we published last week, will create more opportunities. As I said in response to an earlier question, my remit letter to Skills England makes clear…27 Oct 2025HANSARDWorkforce SkillsWe want apprenticeships to be available to employers of all sizes. We have reduced the length of time an apprenticeship needs to take, and I think we can go further with short…27 Oct 2025HANSARDWorkforce SkillsI am happy to look at the experience of that particular employer. I enjoyed a recent visit to a different part of south Wales to open an opportunity hub, which is aimed precisely…27 Oct 2025