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Speech in Commons Chamber - Fri 10 Sep 2021
Education (Careers Guidance in Schools) Bill

"It is an honour to follow my hon. Friend the Member for Ynys Môn (Virginia Crosbie), who has the second most beautiful constituency in the country—of course, St Austell and Newquay is the best.

I left full-time education at the age of 16 and went straight to work for Barclays …..."
Steve Double - View Speech

View all Steve Double (Con - St Austell and Newquay) contributions to the debate on: Education (Careers Guidance in Schools) Bill
Speech in Commons Chamber - Fri 10 Sep 2021
Education (Careers Guidance in Schools) Bill

"My hon. Friend makes a very good point. Since I was first elected to this House, I have focused on the need to create better opportunities for young people in the south-west and, in my case, particularly Cornwall. Too many of my peers had no option but to leave Cornwall …..."
Steve Double - View Speech

View all Steve Double (Con - St Austell and Newquay) contributions to the debate on: Education (Careers Guidance in Schools) Bill
Speech in Commons Chamber - Fri 10 Sep 2021
Education (Careers Guidance in Schools) Bill

"I am grateful to my hon. Friend for giving me the opportunity to say that I have become a grandfather, and baby George Double is doing very well. I am three and a half weeks into being a grandfather and I am loving my new career in life. It is …..."
Steve Double - View Speech

View all Steve Double (Con - St Austell and Newquay) contributions to the debate on: Education (Careers Guidance in Schools) Bill
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 13 May 2021
A Brighter Future for the Next Generation

"I thank the Secretary of State for his commitment to invest in further education in my constituency. Does he agree that, as we emerge from the pandemic, it has never been more important to invest in further education, particularly in some of the most disadvantaged communities across our country?..."
Steve Double - View Speech

View all Steve Double (Con - St Austell and Newquay) contributions to the debate on: A Brighter Future for the Next Generation
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 13 May 2021
A Brighter Future for the Next Generation

"It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Ealing Central and Acton (Dr Huq), although I take a much more optimistic view of our country and this Queen’s Speech. If there is one thing that the Labour party should consider from the results of the election last week …..."
Steve Double - View Speech

View all Steve Double (Con - St Austell and Newquay) contributions to the debate on: A Brighter Future for the Next Generation
Written Question
Minerals: Higher Education
Friday 5th March 2021

Asked by: Steve Double (Conservative - St Austell and Newquay)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to improve the (a) availability and (b) quality of university courses related to the UK's industrial critical minerals needs.

Answered by Michelle Donelan

It is one of the government’s highest priorities and an important manifesto commitment to drive up quality and standards in higher education (HE), which is a fundamental part of our levelling up agenda. We owe it to all our students, wherever they are from, that at the very least they can expect a minimum standard of excellence that is going to lead to a qualification that will improve their future prospects and help them achieve their life goals.

In order to be registered with the English HE regulator, the Office for Students (OfS), HE providers in England are required to meet a minimum set of requirements. These are designed to ensure that all students receive a high-quality academic experience, students’ interests are protected and that students’ qualifications hold their value over time. Providers must deliver successful outcomes for all their students, which are recognised and valued by employers, and/or enable further study. The government welcomes the recent OfS consultation on regulating quality and standards in HE and expects the OfS to progress rapidly to ensure that a robust and enhanced quality regime will be operational as soon as possible.

The OfS provides funding to support high-cost science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects, which will include high skilled jobs in the minerals industry. Further details can be found here: https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/skills-and-employment/supporting-stem-subjects/.

The Strategic Priorities Grant, formerly referred to as the HE Teaching Grant, will play an important role in supporting providers and students to develop the skills and knowledge needed locally, regionally, and nationally to support the economy. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, has asked the OfS to reform the Grant for the 2021-22 financial year, to ensure that more of taxpayers’ money is spent on supporting HE provision which aligns with national priorities, such as healthcare, STEM and subjects meeting specific labour market needs.

The OfS will consult on these changes before final allocations for the 2021-22 financial year are confirmed.

We are also reforming higher technical education to make it more prestigious and popular so that it delivers the skills employers need. We will introduce high-quality, nationally recognised approved higher technical qualifications that meet employer needs, starting with the digital route from September 2022.

Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 03 Feb 2021
Support for University Students: Covid-19

"I have been seeking to support a number of students in my constituency who are doing as they have been asked and staying at home but find themselves locked into tenancy agreements and paying rent on accommodation they cannot use. While it is welcome that some universities and accommodation providers …..."
Steve Double - View Speech

View all Steve Double (Con - St Austell and Newquay) contributions to the debate on: Support for University Students: Covid-19
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 13 Oct 2020
Equality Act 2010: Children from Disadvantaged Backgrounds

"My hon. Friend is making an excellent speech and a very good case, not just on the specific points he has mentioned, but on the wider principle of making sure that the Equality Act actually works. I wish to add to his list the issue of geographical disadvantage. Often, where …..."
Steve Double - View Speech

View all Steve Double (Con - St Austell and Newquay) contributions to the debate on: Equality Act 2010: Children from Disadvantaged Backgrounds
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 07 Sep 2020
Oral Answers to Questions

" St Austell is the largest town in Cornwall and has some of the most deprived communities. Further education provision in the town is vital to our young people’s life chances. Cornwall College is seeking to secure high-quality further education facilities in St Austell by redeveloping its St Austell campus. …..."
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Speech in Ministerial Corrections - Wed 01 Jul 2020
Education

"I thank the Minister for that answer. It is clear that T-levels will have a valuable part to play in ensuring that we have the workforce of the future across the economy, but the sector of the economy that is being most adversely affected by the current crisis is hospitality, …..."
Steve Double - View Speech

View all Steve Double (Con - St Austell and Newquay) contributions to the debate on: Education