Opposition Day — Number of Apprenticeships — Standing and Value of Technical and Vocational Education — 4 Feb 2015 at 16:20

The majority of MPs voted against more apprenticeships; against increasing the standing and value of technical and vocational education.

The majority of MPs also voted against devolving money for adult skills and against giving businesses a central role in driving up standards and increasing the number of apprenticeship places.

The motion rejected by the majority of MPs in this vote stated:

• 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.

Debate in Parliament | Source |