Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will provide an update on the Opportunity Areas programme.

The Department for Education is working alongside local partners including local authorities, schools, universities and businesses in 12 Opportunity Areas to develop and agree plans in due course. These plans, which will build on effective local initiatives to improve outcomes, will outline how we will ensure that children and young in each area can access high quality education and opportunities, at every stage of their life from early years to employment, and fulfil their potential.

We are taking an evidence-based approach that recognises the need to address long-standing challenges and barriers to social mobility, which will allow us to identify what works and spread this to other parts of the country that face similar challenges.

The work led by the Careers and Enterprise Company is one example of how we are increasing opportunity. We have committed to ensuring that young people between 11 and 18 benefit from high quality careers advice and at least four work placements through the course of their education. To deliver this commitment they have recruited Enterprise Advisers, to work with schools and colleges in all 12 areas and have the support of a number of a growing number of businesses.