Oral Answers to Questions

Tom Gordon Excerpts

Monday 9th March 2026 Commons Chamber

[Pat McFadden]

The hon. Lady makes a good point. When we look at the total number of NEETs, within that is what we might regard as standard unemployment cases, a lot of health, sickness and disability cases and a significant number of young carers. One of the things we are doing is expanding childcare support through free breakfast clubs and extending the number of free hours so that we can support young parents to get into work after they have had a child.

[Tom Gordon (Harrogate and Knaresborough) (LD)]

I recently visited Ventrolla, a specialist heritage window manufacturer in my constituency. It was concerned by the recent announcements of apprenticeship reform and the impact that will have on its apprentices. It has signed a cross-party and cross-organisation letter from industry leaders and experts to the Prime Minister about the sector’s concerns about the changes to apprenticeships. They think those changes will undermine the Government’s ambition to generate economic growth. What conversations are Ministers having with businesses such as Ventrolla to ensure that these changes do not adversely impact the sector and rob young people of these opportunities and apprenticeships?

[Pat McFadden]

We have a lot of dialogue with businesses about the nature of the growth and skills levy and how it is used. I have to say to the hon. Gentleman and to the House that we are making a choice to prioritise young people. It is precisely because the previous Government did not prioritise young people that we saw a 40% decline in apprenticeship starts. I do not think that is an argument for the status quo; it is an argument for change. That is the slogan upon which we were elected, and it is change to the system that we will bring.