Oral Answers to Questions

Barry Sheerman Excerpts

Wednesday 6th February 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hurd]

Yes, I do. Young people and employers are telling us that. They recognise that the NCS helps young people develop the character skills, leadership, communication, teamwork and self-confidence that will help them succeed in the workplace. That is why we are so proud to support it.

[Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op)]

Does the Minister agree that the NCS ought to go hand in hand with paying attention to first-class citizenship in our schools? Is he aware that citizenship in schools has been run down to almost nothing?

[Mr Hurd]

That is under review by the Department for Education, but I stress that NCS and programmes like it complement what is going on in schools to build the confidence of young people and change how they feel about what they achieve. They are enormously valuable.