Thursday Volume 529 9 June 2011 No. 166 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Thursday 9 June 2011 £5·00 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2011 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Parliamentary Click-Use Licence, available online through The National Archives website at www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/information-management/our-services/parliamentary-licence-information.htm Enquiries to The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU; e-mail: [email protected] 259 9 JUNE 2011 260 Learning has already written to schools, reminding House of Commons them of their statutory responsibilities under the new careers service as it develops. Thursday 9 June 2011 Gordon Birtwistle: Does my right hon. Gentleman agree that careers advice should start at age 12, be delivered by experienced professional and independent The House met at half-past Ten o’clock advisers, and be available throughout every year of education? PRAYERS Vince Cable: Again, my colleague is absolutely right. The careers service is fundamentally important. My [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] Department and, in particular, my colleague the Minister for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning are talking to careers professionals about how to roll out a properly accredited system of careers advice and, indeed, Oral Answers to Questions about co-locating careers advice with the Department for Work and Pensions and Jobcentre Plus in order to ensure that the service is properly integrated. BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op): Does the Secretary of State agree that Members should set an example to young people with an interest in manufacturing, The Secretary of State was asked— and will he encourage all Members from all parts to join the campaign Made by Britain, whereby we find innovative, Engineering and Manufacturing Careers imaginative and new products in every constituency in the country and put them in a virtual Crystal Palace to 1. Simon Hughes (Bermondsey and Old Southwark) show that we can still do manufacturing in this country? (LD): What steps he plans to take to encourage young people to take up careers in engineering and manufacturing. Vince Cable: The hon. Gentleman has already described [57776] his scheme to me, and it sounds an exciting project. I have identified several potential candidates in my 8. Gordon Birtwistle (Burnley) (LD): What steps he constituency, and it sits alongside many other very good plans to take to encourage young people to take up initiatives that are taking place, including for example careers in engineering and manufacturing. [57784] the engineering prize, which is being launched with the support of leading UK companies. The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (Vince Cable): We are funding STEMNET, a Ian Lucas (Wrexham) (Lab): I join the Secretary of programme that encourages young people to look at the State in welcoming the tremendous news this week of possibilities offered by science, technology, engineering the excellent investment from BMW Mini and Nissan. and mathematics—STEM—study and employment; That of course builds on the initiatives of the Automotive we are providing a £180 million package that will see Council, which has been so successful and was set up by 50,000 new higher apprenticeships in sectors including the previous Labour Government. Also set up by the STEM-related industries; and, of course, the main incentive previous Labour Government was Manufacturing Insight, is good manufacturing jobs, which is why I welcome the an organisation dedicated to bringing young people into announcements yesterday and today from Nissan and engineering and manufacturing, which this Government BMW of large new investments in British manufacturing have scrapped unfortunately. Why did the Secretary of industry. State make that decision? Simon Hughes: I obviously welcome my right hon. Vince Cable: I am not sure I should take lectures on Friend’s interest in both areas and the interest of manufacturing industry from a representative of the organisations such as Engineering UK, which has a party that presided over the biggest decline in manufacturing fantastic route map on its website, showing exactly what of any major country, but none the less the hon. Gentleman one has to do to get from school into engineering. May is right that there are some good legacies. One of them I encourage Ministers, however, to work with the is the Automotive Council, which works extremely well Department for Education to ensure that, as part of the and contributes very positively to the supply chain. I engagement between employers and schools, we also welcome that. have one-to-one and face-to-face careers advice for school leavers, so that they receive personalised support Apprenticeships in the choices that they make? 2. David T. C. Davies (Monmouth) (Con): What steps Vince Cable: Yes, my colleague is absolutely right. he is taking to reduce the burden of administration on Indeed, I was at the Royal Academy of Engineering employers offering to take on apprentices. [57777] during the week, talking about how we strengthen that interface between education and the engineering industry, The Minister for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong and as regards the careers service my colleague the Learning (Mr John Hayes): George Sand said: Minister for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong “Simplicity is the most difficult thing to secure in this world”. 261 Oral Answers9 JUNE 2011 Oral Answers 262 Nevertheless we are working with employers and their The potential for low-carbon industries comes not representatives to challenge the requirements and processes only from the green investment bank, important though imposed on employers taking on apprentices. We have that is, but from the skills base and getting businesses identified a number of areas where we will streamline or ready to take this opportunity. What are the Government remove unnecessary bureaucratic processes, demonstrating doing to ensure that throughout the UK the skills base that the Government are absolutely committed to beating will be there and business will be able to take advantage bureaucracy and to breaking down barriers wherever of the potential of the green investment bank—particularly, we find them. of course, when it is situated in Edinburgh? David T. C. Davies: I thank the Minister very much for that. Does he agree that, to many people, high-quality Vince Cable: I know that the hon. Gentleman too has vocational courses will offer a far better route to gainful a long-standing and active involvement in environmental employment than a meaningless degree somewhere? issues. He is right to say that it is not simply a question of investment but of skills. That is why, as part of the expanded apprenticeship programme, we have specifically Mr Hayes: For too long we have assumed that the set aside resources for those working in the green economy, only route to accomplishment is through academic prowess. particularly regarding the skills that are required to I believe that practical, technical and vocational competence implement the green deal. not only serves economic need, but instils the purposeful pride that enriches lives, cements communities and builds a better Britain. Employment Law Valerie Vaz (Walsall South) (Lab): A director of Sirus Automotive who lives in my constituency would like to 4. Alun Cairns (Vale of Glamorgan) (Con): What take on apprentices, but he has had his grant of £129,000 steps he is taking to ensure that employment law supports from Advantage West Midlands cut. Will the Secretary business competitiveness, job creation and sustainable of State look into that to see why, as this is committed economic growth. [57779] spending, his grant cannot be paid to him so that he can take on more apprentices? 11. Julian Smith (Skipton and Ripon) (Con): What Mr Hayes: I will be more than happy to look into that steps he is taking to ensure that employment law matter on behalf of the Secretary of State. It is absolutely supports business competitiveness, job creation and right that that where there are barriers of the kind that I sustainable economic growth. [57787] mentioned a moment ago, we identify and overcome them. I would be happy to talk to the hon. Lady on that basis. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (Mr Edward Davey): My Department Green Investment Bank is leading a comprehensive review of employment-related laws across Government to remove burdens from employers and ensure that our labour market operates effectively. 3. Simon Kirby (Brighton, Kemptown) (Con): How Our consultation on resolving workplace disputes, for many jobs in low-carbon industries he expects to be example, closed on 20 April, and we will be coming created by the actions of the green investment bank. forward with our proposals in the autumn. [57778] The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Alun Cairns: Does the Minister agree that there is a Skills (Vince Cable): The green investment bank will be need to reduce employment regulation following Lord a key element in financing investment in the green Young’s excellent report which talked about businesses economy. It is not possible to estimate the number of operating within a climate of fear; and what progress is green jobs it will help to create, but this sector in the UK he making in reducing red tape in general? is already substantial and employed around 910,000 people in 2008-09. A total of £3 billion of funding has been Mr Davey: I am grateful for my hon. Friend’s question. made available to the green investment bank from 2012 I met Lord Young to discuss his views, and he explained and could mobilise an additional £15 billion in private that in his meetings with business people they talked sector investment.