Monday Volume 554 3 December 2012 No. 79 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Monday 3 December 2012 £5·00 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2012 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 569 3 DECEMBER 2012 570 Matthew Hancock: I warmly welcome the Richard House of Commons report, which stresses the need for rigour in apprenticeships and for apprenticeships to be more employer focused. I am studying it in great detail. The hon. Gentleman says Monday 3 December 2012 that apprenticeships need to be for a minimum of a year, and in almost all cases that is already happening, thanks to changes introduced by my predecessor, but The House met at half-past Two o’clock we want to look at all the recommendations and see which we can implement. PRAYERS Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire) (Con): I welcome some of the things the Minister said to the hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr Wright) about engineering, but is he [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] not concerned that Sir James Dyson—Dyson engineering is based in my constituency—said last week that he needs 200 new designers and engineers in Malmesbury alone but cannot find them and that across the nation Oral Answers to Questions we are desperately short of them. What will we do to improve science, engineering and design in our schools and universities? EDUCATION Matthew Hancock: Not only is the number of engineering apprenticeships up, but a higher proportion of young people are now starting STEM—science, technology, The Secretary of State was asked— engineering and maths—degrees at university. That is going up, rather than down, as it was before. This is an Vocational Education area of huge concern to me and I am working extremely hard to try to put it right. 1. Mr Iain Wright (Hartlepool) (Lab): What plans he has for vocational education; and if he will make a Robert Halfon (Harlow) (Con): Does my hon. Friend statement. [130869] agree that the university technical colleges, one of which will open in Harlow in 2014, will transform vocational 2. Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South) (Lab): education and provide young people with a conveyor What plans he has for vocational education; and if he belt to pre-apprenticeships? will make a statement. [130870] The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Skills Matthew Hancock: Yes, I do. I was almost expecting (Matthew Hancock): World-class vocational education an invitation to visit the UTC in Harlow, which I would is vital for a world-class economy, so we are bringing love to see. UTCs across the country are about trying to rigour to vocational education by recognising the best fill the gap that has been left for far too long, and this qualifications, strengthening apprenticeships and Government are dealing with it. introducing a Tech Bac to reward and celebrate stretching occupational education. Stephen Twigg (Liverpool, West Derby) (Lab/Co-op): The Minister confirmed in The Times on Saturday the Mr Wright: EngineeringUK has today published a report that the Government report showing that this country needs to double the “is stealing the idea for a Technical Baccalaureate proposed by number of engineering recruits and triple the number of Ed Miliband”. engineering apprenticeships. It calls for face-to-face careers Does he agree that, in addition to high-quality advice in schools and additional assistance to help schools apprenticeships, English and maths until age 18 and appreciate 21st century engineering. The Government quality technical education before 16 will be crucial to have had to U-turn over their engineering diploma, the success of such a baccalaureate? so will the Minister U-turn again and implement EngineeringUK’s recommendations in full? Matthew Hancock: I am absolutely delighted by the positive tone coming from the Opposition Front Bench. Matthew Hancock: I met EngineeringUK last week The Tech Bac, as suggested by Lord Adonis, a man for at the launch of its report, so I am well versed on its whom the Government have huge respect, is one of the recommendations and very supportive of the need to things we will do to ensure higher quality occupational increase the number of engineers in our country, something and vocational qualifications and more respect for them. that has been sadly lacking for far too long. As the hon. I look forward to consulting widely and will set out Gentleman knows, we are introducing, along with the more details in due course. Royal Academy, new qualifications that fit the accountability system. We will do what it takes to ensure that this country has enough engineers. Stephen Twigg: But does the Minister agree that there is a real risk that this is out of kilter with the pre-16 Mr Jim Cunningham: What assessment has the Minister reforms that the Government are proposing? Last week’s made of the Richard report, which recommends that excellent report on schools by the CBI stated that the apprenticeships should last at least a year? “mistakes of the past… may be repeated in the” 571 Oral Answers3 DECEMBER 2012 Oral Answers 572 English baccalaureate. It is urging a pause. Both head Andrew Percy (Brigg and Goole) (Con): I know from teachers and business leaders are now united against the my own time in the classroom how important digital Government’s EBacc reforms, so will they think again? media resources can be in helping to deliver first-class lessons, but too many schools in my constituency are Matthew Hancock: The CBI will be very surprised to unable to access fast enough broadband speeds. May I be quoted in that fashion. The crucial point is that a urge my hon. Friend to take up the mantle of schools common core of strong English and maths is vital for on the Isle of Axholme, in particular, to ensure that our underpinning technical, occupational, vocational and broadband delivery plans are rolled out as quickly as academic qualifications. The single most important pair possible? of qualifications that anybody can get for their employability is GCSE-level English and maths, and so making sure Elizabeth Truss: I completely agree with my hon. that there is a strong common core at the age of 16 is a Friend that high-speed broadband is important so that vital part of stronger occupational and vocational education students can access the best-quality teaching materials after that. from around the world. That is why, as a Government, we are pursuing high-speed broadband across the country. Henry Smith (Crawley) (Con): I am delighted that on 14 December I will officially open the new university Meg Hillier (Hackney South and Shoreditch) (Lab/ presence in Crawley. Will the Minister join me in Co-op): Bridge academy in Hackney and our university congratulating Central Sussex college on introducing technology college, among other schools in Hackney, STEM vocational courses, working with some of the provide proper digital learning for jobs for five years first-class companies in my constituency, as well as hence. Given the Minister’s words about the importance extending apprenticeships? of learning in this field, what is she doing to make sure that the school curriculum is preparing students for the Matthew Hancock: Yes. I have not been able to visit work force for businesses such as those in Tech City the college that my hon. Friend talks about, but from which require this home-grown talent? what I have seen of it, it is exactly the sort of thing that we need to do in extending upwards the quality chain in Elizabeth Truss: We are working with leading figures vocational education and engaging with employers— in IT and computing to develop a programme of study businesses and public sector employers—to make sure that will encourage children to learn to code and programme that we provide the skills that they need in future. from an early age. The problem with the previous information and communications technology curriculum, Laptops and Tablets as everybody agreed, is that it was focused on using programmes instead of understanding how to programme. 3. Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op): What steps he is taking to encourage the use of laptops John Pugh (Southport) (LD): I thank the Minister for and tablets in the school learning process. [130871] giving that answer, which is very encouraging. However, what is the timetable for this new enthusiasm for The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education programming? (Elizabeth Truss): Technology provides a great opportunity to get high-quality teaching materials and experiences Elizabeth Truss: The timetable is imminent. from around the world into our classrooms, but it is key to remember that the quality of teaching is paramount School Discipline in educational achievement. That is why we have given heads the power over their own budgets to decide how best to spend money. 4. Mr David Amess (Southend West) (Con): What steps he is taking to improve discipline in schools. [130872] Mr Sheerman: The Minister will not be surprised to find me disagreeing with her analysis. The fact is that there is a growing digital divide between schools that The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education take technology seriously as a way of learning and (Elizabeth Truss): We are taking decisive action to equip those that do not. It is up to this Government, who got teachers to restore discipline in schools. No longer can a rid of the Department’s e-learning unit, to realise that decision to exclude pupils be undermined by an appeal leadership in this respect will take us to an educational panel against the best interests of a school and other system for the future.