Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Bill [Lords] — 25 Feb 2025 at 18:46

“the option for each standard and apprenticeship assessment plan to be prepared by the Secretary of State”.

“this House declines to give a Second Reading to the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Bill because, while acknowledging the importance of reforming the delivery of skills and technical education, it fails to establish Skills England as a statutory independent body; because it centralises decision-making power in the hands of the Secretary of State; because it provides for the abolition of the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education without ensuring a legally defined replacement; and because it lacks provisions to ensure that Skills England is directly accountable to Parliament.”

“My Government will establish Skills England which will have a new partnership with employers at its heart”,

“slowdown in the growth rate of new apprenticeships and technical education courses due to potential delays in the approvals process”

“The first condition of education is being able to put someone to wholesome and meaningful work.”

“a man at work, making something which he feels will exist because he is working at it and wills it, is exercising the energies of his mind and soul as well as of his body.”

“The highest reward for a person’s toil is not what they get for it, but what they become by it.”

“In principle, this could help employers to pay for other forms of training that they and their employees would find valuable. But the history of these wider training subsidies, such as the former Train to Gain programme”-

“suggests that the result is often that much of the spending goes on training that firms would have provided-and paid for-even without the subsidy.”

“This will really impact social mobility into sectors like law, accountancy, and consulting. The traditional route into law is expensive and therefore without the apprenticeship scheme many would not be able to afford to do so. We also believe it will have a wider detrimental impact on the reputation of apprenticeships.”

“contrary to the previous characterisation of Skills England that was outlined in the…King’s Speech…and contrary to the vision for Skills England to be an independent body, established in law, with a cross-governmental role”.

“The transfer of function from IfATE to the DfE could potentially cause a temporary slowdown in the growth rate of new apprenticeships and technical education courses due to potential delays in the approvals process resulting from the bill.”

“This may disproportionately impact disadvantaged learners, who rely more heavily on these pathways for career advancement.”

Debate in Parliament |