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Written question asked by Alexander Stafford (Conservative) on Friday, 28 August 2020, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 2 September 2020. It was answered by Gillian Keegan (Conservative) on Tuesday, 8 September 2020 on behalf of the Department for Education.

Technology: Adult Education

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans he has to establish retraining programmes in (a) renewable energy and (b) other clean technologies for people that were made unemployed as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

Answer

Alongside wider adult skills reforms, the government is providing £2.5 billion (£3 billion when including Barnett funding for devolved administrations) over the course of the Parliament, for a new National Skills Fund to help adults learn new skills and prepare for the economy of the future.

Work is progressing to develop detailed plans for the National Skills Fund, including considering what role the fund could play in response to Covid-19. We will be consulting on the National Skills Fund in due course when those with an interest are better able to actively engage with it.

Apprenticeships will also have an important role to play in creating employment opportunities and supporting employers in all sectors to access the skilled workforce they need to recover and grow post-Covid-19. They can also help people re-train and re-enter the workforce. To help employers offer new apprenticeships at this time we’ve introduced a new payment of £2,000 for employers in England for each new apprentice they hire aged under 25, and a £1,500 payment for each new apprentice they hire aged 25 and over, from 1 August to 31 January 2021.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
82626
Session
2019-21
Transferred
Yes
Subjects
Adult education Environment protection Disease control Technology Unemployment Coronavirus
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk