Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Oral Answers to Questions

Sajid Javid Excerpts
Thursday 27th October 2011

(12 years, 6 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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We always enjoy the lyricism of the Minister.

Sajid Javid Portrait Sajid Javid (Bromsgrove) (Con)
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Having recently served a one-year apprenticeship by the side of the Minister for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning, I am not surprised by the excellent numbers that were released today on apprenticeships, as his dedication is second to none. May I ask him to say a word on the increase in level 3 apprenticeships, which are equivalent in qualification to A-levels?

John Hayes Portrait Mr Hayes
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My hon. Friend has gone on to other, I am tempted to say greater, things since he served that apprenticeship, and he is right to draw attention once again to the increase at level 3, because there were those, largely drawn from the bourgeois left, who looked down their noses at practical learning and who thought that the most growth would be at level 2, but actually we have facilitated very substantial growth—over 60%—at level 3 as my hon. Friend says. It is a rosy day for the Government and, much more importantly, a rosy day for Britain.