Debates between Alison McGovern and Matt Hancock during the 2010-2015 Parliament

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Alison McGovern and Matt Hancock
Thursday 21st March 2013

(11 years, 2 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Alison McGovern Portrait Alison McGovern (Wirral South) (Lab)
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5. What assessment he has made of access to apprenticeships for young women.

Matt Hancock Portrait The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Skills (Matthew Hancock)
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The number of women starting apprenticeships has more than doubled since this Government took office. The tax cuts for low earners that were announced yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer will take thousands of apprentices—men and women—out of tax altogether.

Alison McGovern Portrait Alison McGovern
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I thank the Minister for his answer, I think. It sounded lovely, but unfortunately the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee reported in November:

“Gender segregation remains a huge problem with only 3% of engineering apprentices”

being women

“compared to 92% of hairdressing apprentices.”

The Select Committee said:

“Such inequality, especially in a publicly funded scheme is not acceptable”.

Since November, what has the Minister been doing about that?