Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to improve the performance of careers services.

It is essential that all young people leave school fully prepared for life in modern Britain. All schools should have a clear strategy for careers guidance which inspires pupils about a range of ambitious careers. We have set this expectation through revised statutory guidance, which underpins schools’ duty to secure independent careers guidance. In addition, a new employer-led Careers and Enterprise Company will encourage greater collaboration between schools and colleges and employers, helping young people to access the best advice and inspiration.

The National Careers Service provides over 1 million people annually with impartial and professional careers information advice and guidance to help them enter work, learning or progress in life. Last year the National Careers Service went through a complete reconfiguration with all its contracts procured through a comprehensive open and competitive tendering process. The new contracts awarded in October 2014 are on a payment by results basis. 94% of face-to-face and telephone customers agreed that the overall quality of the service was good.