Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to help reduce age-related barriers in recruitment practices.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
We recognise that young people face additional barriers, with almost one million currently not in education, employment or training. At Budget 2025, the Government committed over £1.5 billion to improve youth participation, including £820 million for the Youth Guarantee and £725 million for the Growth and Skills Levy. Further details of the announcement can be found here: Written statements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament. We have also commissioned the Right Honourable Alan Milburn to author a report that will seek to understand the drivers of the increase in the number of young people who are not in education, employment, or training and to investigate the root causes of this rise in economic inactivity
We also work with employers nationally to recognise the value of older workers and promote age inclusive recruitment and retention. We encourage participation in initiatives such as the Age-Friendly Employer Pledge and provide tailored support to employers to embed flexible working, age positive hiring approaches, and accessible career development. This includes helping employers create recruitment models that attract older jobseekers by promoting flexible job design, return-to-work schemes, and targeted recruitment campaigns. Alongside our work with employers, we support jobseekers through our network of Jobcentres and contracted employment programmes. This includes specific support for eligible older workers including Additional Work Coach Time and Midlife MOTs, which provide an opportunity to review health, finances and skills and signpost to suitable support. There is also a digital Midlife MOT available to everyone
Asked by: Saqib Bhatti (Conservative - Meriden and Solihull East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many young people are taking training in digital skills.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
Digital and artificial intelligence (AI) skills are essential for young people to succeed in education, employment and to engage effectively in a digital world. Following the recommendations of the independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, we are strengthening digital education. The computing curriculum will remain the main route for teaching digital literacy, with clearer guidance on what pupils should learn. We are also considering how digital content should be included within other subjects and will work with experts to assess viability.
To equip pupils for a digitally enabled world, we will replace the computer science GCSE with a broader computing GCSE and incorporate AI, data science, and topics such as bias into the curriculum in an age-appropriate way. We are also exploring a potential Level 3 qualification in data science and AI. Draft proposals will be subject to public consultation later this year.
Evidence on the benefits and risks of students using generative AI is still emerging, so we will continue to build evidence and support the education sector to use AI safely and effectively. Schools using pupil-facing generative AI must carefully follow legal responsibilities, as outlined in our Generative AI policy paper.
Student numbers for a range of approved Level 2 and 3 subjects can be found within educational statistics here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/.
The actions we are taking forward are expected to increase the teaching of digital literacy and AI within the curriculum and encourage more young people to consider digital qualifications, bolstering the future pipeline of talent.
Asked by: Saqib Bhatti (Conservative - Meriden and Solihull East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to provide young people with digital skills.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
Digital and artificial intelligence (AI) skills are essential for young people to succeed in education, employment and to engage effectively in a digital world. Following the recommendations of the independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, we are strengthening digital education. The computing curriculum will remain the main route for teaching digital literacy, with clearer guidance on what pupils should learn. We are also considering how digital content should be included within other subjects and will work with experts to assess viability.
To equip pupils for a digitally enabled world, we will replace the computer science GCSE with a broader computing GCSE and incorporate AI, data science, and topics such as bias into the curriculum in an age-appropriate way. We are also exploring a potential Level 3 qualification in data science and AI. Draft proposals will be subject to public consultation later this year.
Evidence on the benefits and risks of students using generative AI is still emerging, so we will continue to build evidence and support the education sector to use AI safely and effectively. Schools using pupil-facing generative AI must carefully follow legal responsibilities, as outlined in our Generative AI policy paper.
Student numbers for a range of approved Level 2 and 3 subjects can be found within educational statistics here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/.
The actions we are taking forward are expected to increase the teaching of digital literacy and AI within the curriculum and encourage more young people to consider digital qualifications, bolstering the future pipeline of talent.
Asked by: Saqib Bhatti (Conservative - Meriden and Solihull East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps are the government taking to ensure young people can use AI.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
Digital and artificial intelligence (AI) skills are essential for young people to succeed in education, employment and to engage effectively in a digital world. Following the recommendations of the independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, we are strengthening digital education. The computing curriculum will remain the main route for teaching digital literacy, with clearer guidance on what pupils should learn. We are also considering how digital content should be included within other subjects and will work with experts to assess viability.
To equip pupils for a digitally enabled world, we will replace the computer science GCSE with a broader computing GCSE and incorporate AI, data science, and topics such as bias into the curriculum in an age-appropriate way. We are also exploring a potential Level 3 qualification in data science and AI. Draft proposals will be subject to public consultation later this year.
Evidence on the benefits and risks of students using generative AI is still emerging, so we will continue to build evidence and support the education sector to use AI safely and effectively. Schools using pupil-facing generative AI must carefully follow legal responsibilities, as outlined in our Generative AI policy paper.
Student numbers for a range of approved Level 2 and 3 subjects can be found within educational statistics here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/.
The actions we are taking forward are expected to increase the teaching of digital literacy and AI within the curriculum and encourage more young people to consider digital qualifications, bolstering the future pipeline of talent.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that businesses planning AI investment can access appropriate digital infrastructure and skills training.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The government is committed to facilitating the diffusion of AI across the whole of the UK by addressing the barriers to adoption faced by businesses and workers. DSIT is working with DfE and Skills England to assess the AI skills gap and map pathways to fill it and recently announced a joint commitment with industry to upskill 7.5 million workers by 2030 with vital AI skills.
Through the Industrial Strategy the government is taking steps to boost access to digital infrastructure such by supporting strategic demand projects to connect to the grid. UK businesses can also access the AI Research Resource which offers free access to high-performance AI compute, with dedicated user support and skills development to help UK-based start‑ups and SMEs experiment, innovate, and scale.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential impact of AI on the labour market, and how that assessment informs their policies on training, skills and labour market resilience.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The government is committed to ensuring that people have access to good, meaningful work. This involves adapting to structural changes in the labour market, including the emergence of new technology and other changes. While AI-driven changes in the labour market may bring challenges, they also offer new opportunities for economic growth, job creation, and increased productivity.
We are already witnessing AI’s impact on the labour market: transforming the workplace, demanding new skills and changing the jobs landscape. We continue to monitor trends in the labour market as the impact of AI evolves. We remain mindful of this impact and its effect on the UK workforce and DWP customers, whilst working to harness the benefits that AI can bring.
We are continuing to deliver our Get Britain Working reforms to ensure we provide people with access to good work and training opportunities fit for the future. DWP has a strong track record of supporting people to re-skill (where needed) to re-enter work.
Government funds post-16 education, training and qualifications through 16-19 funding, the Adult Skills Fund and apprenticeships. This can support people at all stages of their lives to train and reskill in a range of sectors – including in response to changes in technology such as AI.
Government is investing £187 million to bring digital and AI learning into classrooms and support over 4,000 graduates, researchers, and innovators in areas like AI, cyber security and computer science. We will train 7.5 million UK workers in essential AI skills by 2030 through our new industry partnership with major tech players. Skills England is working with DSIT to mobilise the government-industry partnership that will deliver on this commitment.
Asked by: Saqib Bhatti (Conservative - Meriden and Solihull East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many young people are undertaking training in AI.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
Digital and artificial intelligence (AI) skills are essential for young people to succeed in education, employment and to engage effectively in a digital world. Following the recommendations of the independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, we are strengthening digital education. The computing curriculum will remain the main route for teaching digital literacy, with clearer guidance on what pupils should learn. We are also considering how digital content should be included within other subjects and will work with experts to assess viability.
To equip pupils for a digitally enabled world, we will replace the computer science GCSE with a broader computing GCSE and incorporate AI, data science, and topics such as bias into the curriculum in an age-appropriate way. We are also exploring a potential Level 3 qualification in data science and AI. Draft proposals will be subject to public consultation later this year.
Evidence on the benefits and risks of students using generative AI is still emerging, so we will continue to build evidence and support the education sector to use AI safely and effectively. Schools using pupil-facing generative AI must carefully follow legal responsibilities, as outlined in our Generative AI policy paper.
Student numbers for a range of approved Level 2 and 3 subjects can be found within educational statistics here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/.
The actions we are taking forward are expected to increase the teaching of digital literacy and AI within the curriculum and encourage more young people to consider digital qualifications, bolstering the future pipeline of talent.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many people undertook the Essential Digital Skills qualification in the past two years and how many did not complete the course.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.
In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 23,930 aim enrolments and 19,320 aim achievements on Essential Digital Skills qualifications in England by adult further education and skills learners. In the 2023/24, academic year there were 28,430 and 22,310 respectively. These figures are published in additional supporting files accompanying the ’Further education and skills’ accredited official statistics publication and have been available since November 2025. The ‘Further education and skills’ publication is available at:
Aim enrolments and aim achievements are separate measures and should not be used to infer progress within an academic year. Additionally, learners may undertake or achieve more than one learning aim in an academic year.
Achievement rates for Essential Digital Skills qualifications are published in the national achievement rate tables in the ‘Further education and skills’ publication. The latest published data, available since March 2025, covers the 2023/24 academic year in England and is available at:
Asked by: Victoria Collins (Liberal Democrat - Harpenden and Berkhamsted)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans his Department has to expand apprenticeship and training programmes for engineering roles supporting digital and energy infrastructure development.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
This Government is transforming the apprenticeships offer into a new growth and skills offer, backed by £725 million of additional investment, which will deliver greater flexibility to employers and learners and support the industrial strategy.
In August 2025 we introduced new foundation apprenticeships to give young people a route into careers in critical sectors, enabling them to earn a wage while developing vital skills. The first foundation apprenticeships are focussed on industrial strategy and priority areas, they include engineering and manufacturing, software and data, and hardware, network and infrastructure.
Additionally, from April 2026, employers will also be able to access short, flexible training courses to help respond quickly to evolving skills needs. The first wave of these courses will be called apprenticeship units, and they will be available in critical skills areas such as engineering and digital.
Following commitments made in the Industrial Strategy, the Post 16 Education and Skills White Paper announced an £182 million engineering skills package, with the aim of helping to address the engineering skills needed in priority sectors such as advanced manufacturing, clean energy, and digital and technology.
Asked by: Victoria Collins (Liberal Democrat - Harpenden and Berkhamsted)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what plans she has to fund (a) digital inclusion organisations and (b) community-based AI literacy programmes to support people who lack the skills or confidence to use AI-powered services; and what plans her Department has for funding lifelong learning programmes to support transitions towards increased AI use across workplaces.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Everyone should be able to benefit from the digital world — from saving on everyday bills to finding better jobs and accessing vital services like the NHS.
That is why – as part of the First Steps confirmed in the Digital Inclusion Action Plan – we launched the £11.9 million Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund to help more people across the UK get the access, skills and confidence to get online. This included 85 community led projects in England.
Numerous projects are supporting people to build AI skills, such as the Age UK Westminster project improving AI literacy for older people, and Aston University and FutureDotNow delivering projects that support youth employability through digital inclusion.
This Fund will conclude by 31 March 2026.
More broadly, reducing the AI skills gap is critical for increasing the UK’s productivity and delivering long-term growth. That is why we are working with DfE and Skills England to assess the AI skills gap and map pathways to fill it, and last year announced a joint commitment with industry to upskill 7.5 million workers with vital AI skills.
Alongside this, DSIT is delivering the £187 million TechFirst programme that will support over 4,000 domestic graduates, researchers and innovators and engage 1 million students in digital skills and AI learning.
Lastly, following the independent Curriculum and Assessment Review’s final report last year, national curriculum will be updated to prepare young people for life and work in a changing world. The Government will embed digital, media and AI literacy across the curriculum, introduce a refreshed, broader computing GCSE, and integrate digital content into other subjects.