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Proceeding contribution from Damian Hinds (Conservative) in the House of Commons on Wednesday, 16 February 2011. It occurred during Opposition day on Youth Unemployment.


Youth Unemployment

Actually, this is about unemployment and creating a vibrant economy in which people can be employed. If the hon. Gentleman reads every clause of the motion, he will discover that I am correct. In the hospitality sector we find that at entry level, kids who have grown up in this country do not have the same skill sets as some of their rivals from other countries. It is not just about being able to make the best eggs benedict: it is about having the interpersonal skills I was talking about—greeting the customer, making eye contact, smiling, offering to help and owning the problem of the customer. Those are the sorts of skills that we need to build up. It is because of some of those gaps that some employers, sadly, actively prefer to take on young people who have not been educated in this country. That is a huge shame. I am running out of time. I hugely welcome the Work programme, the enterprise allowance and the expansion in apprenticeships. I equally welcome the review of vocational education and training and the fresh look we are taking at the national curriculum and our commitment to improving education and benchmarking it against the very best in the world. I also welcome the fact that the Government are getting a grip on immigration, which is related to this, and the radical welfare reform. Most of all, I welcome the fact that the Government are living up to their responsibilities to eliminate the structural deficit, to keep interest rates low, to get businesses investing and to grow the economy and create jobs.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
523 c1009 
Session
2010-12
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Apprentices Employment schemes Economic situation Social security benefits Training Young people Unemployment Future Jobs Fund Work programme
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk