Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to encourage that young people into employment in skilled labour.

The government is committed to ensuring every young person is equipped with the skills, knowledge and experiences needed to progress into skilled employment.

We are improving careers guidance through the updated Gatsby Benchmarks, career hubs, careers leader training and greater employer engagement.

We are reforming the post-16 qualifications landscape so that technical and academic qualifications better support progression into skilled employment and meet employers' needs. We are also supporting 50,000 more young people into apprenticeships, including through expanded foundation apprenticeships, a £2,000 hiring payment for non-levy employers, and full funding for non-levy employers recruiting 16 to 24-year-old apprentices.

Alongside this, we are working towards delivering our manifesto commitment to guarantee two weeks' worth of work experience for every secondary pupil and continue to promote apprenticeships, T Levels and other technical routes. Through the Construction Skills Programme and Industry Placement programme, learners can gain valuable workplace experience and progress into skilled employment.