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PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE
Vocational Training - 4 November 2024 (Commons/Commons Chamber)

Debate Detail

Contributions from Tom Gordon, are highlighted with a yellow border.
Lab
Patrick Hurley
Southport
5. What steps she is taking to help increase the number of students undertaking vocational training courses.
  14:51:28
Janet Daby
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education
Further education is vital in breaking down barriers to opportunity, driving growth and generating clean energy. The Budget allocated £300 million to support young people and improve skills development. In September, the Department launched a new phase of the “It all starts with skills” campaign to promote programmes such as apprenticeships and T-levels.
  14:52:05
Patrick Hurley
After 14 years of Tory decline, there is much to do in this country to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure. A lot of people need jobs to help us achieve that. I am glad that the new Government are working to increase the number of students being trained in the industries of the future, but will the Minister tell us how she is working across Government to make sure that more young people can find those opportunities locally, rather than having to move away from their local communities?
  14:52:32
Janet Daby
Central to our opportunity mission is that where someone is from should not determinewhere they end up in life. This Government are serious about supporting young people. We are working across Government to ensure that young people are supported in their communities through devolution, local growth plans, local skills improvement plans and the youth guarantee.
LD
  14:52:28
Tom Gordon
Harrogate and Knaresborough
The largest provider of vocational education and training opportunities in my constituency is Harrogate college, which was previously promised more than £20 million in a combination of loans and grants under the FE capital transformation fund. I have written repeatedly to the Government to ask if they can secure an extension to that funding period because, due to a hold-up in the planning process, it will not be able to meet the deadlines. Will the Minister commit to guaranteeing the funding for Harrogate college for that rebuild?
Janet Daby
The hon. Member outlined many failings by the previous Government. I will ask my noble Friend the Minister for Skills to meet him.

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