Question time briefing: Innovation, universities and skills

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ePolitix.com reports on Thursday's questions to ministers, in which the Conservative Party accuses Labour of failing to deliver on its capital programmes.

Shadow skills minister David Willetts slammed Labour for a failure to bring forward capital spending to further education colleges. He alleged that there were young people learning in temporary classrooms and argued that there were still too many delays.

But John Denham, skills minister, rejected the claims, and pointed out that he had made a statement recently to clarify capital spending.

Willetts pressed further, asking "why he didn't make an announcement" as soon as he knew there may be delays.

Denham rejected the claims that he had delayed an announcement about the potential problems in capital spending. He said that ministers may have known about possible problems but had managed to secure significant investments.

Andy Reed (Lab/Co-op, Loughborough) asked what recent discussions he has had with the secretary of state for communities and local government on student housing need.

Reed reported that whilst Loughborough was a beacon, was the minister putting pressure on planning authorities to combat 'studentification'.

Siobhain McDonagh (Lab, Mitcham & Morden) inquired what steps were being taken to increase the number of apprenticeship places in Mitcham and Morden.

Skills minister, Sion Simon, detailed the relevant government initiatives.

McDonagh welcomed the increased apprenticeships and training, and asked if the minister agreed on the importance of skills and training during the recession.

Simon stated that Train to Gain and other skills budgets needed shouldn't be cut.

Dari Taylor (Lab, Stockton South) asked what steps the minister's department is taking to assist those who lose their jobs in acquiring new skills.

Taylor asked what was being done specifically to help women access skills and training.

Denham reported that three million people were gaining skills needed to be in work. He pointed to a majority of those benefitting from further education provision were women. But he agreed that there was a need for improvement.

Sir Patrick Cormack (Con, South Staffordshire) highlighted the advantages of careers in "the crafts" and Denham agreed that a meeting could be needed.

Anne Moffat (Lab, East Lothian) asked about the need to help people to gain skills in vocational courses, and suggested that it was "very easy to get hold of an academic".

Denham replied that with more investment, there would be more vocational places.

Stephen Williams (Lib Dem, Bristol West) highlighted Liberal Democrat policy in removing barriers to skills and asked if the minister would remove the ludicrous rule that once you reach the age of 25" you no longer qualify the support. He called for training costs to be met.

Denham suggested that Williams was committed to cutting Train to Gain, and could not cost his plan unless he cut the number of people going to university.

Alison Seabeck (Lab, Plymouth, Devonport) then asked about gender balancing in employment.

Skills minister, David Lammy, said Seabeck was right to champion the issues. He added that there had been "some progress" and reported that for the first time, there was guidance in schools.

Desmond Swayne (Con, New Forest West) asked about STEM subject take up in universities, and the need for teaching opportunities to be made available.

Denham agreed that there was a need to ensure that those with a background "do have an opportunity to enthuse younger children".

Adam Alfyrie pointed out that women only make up 2.6 per cent of engineering apprenticeships and 15 per cent of UK engineering students.

Lammy rejected the claims that Labour were not tackling the issue, highlighting women-led science projects and positive action.

David Heathcoat-Amory (Con, Wells) asked about overseas students and their failure to repay loans. But Lammy replied that there were 10,000 UK students abroad, and many European Students simply had yet to complete their courses.

Topical questions to the secretary of state for innovation, universities and skills followed.

David Drew (Lab, Co-op, Stroud) welcomed help for those missing out on an apprenticeship in the current economic climate. He suggested that wage compensation would be needed to tackle the problem presented.

Denham, highlighted the investment in training and group training associations to enable organisations to maintain apprenticeships.

John Pugh deplored the intent to close down philosophy, politics and statistics courses at Liverpool University.

However, Denham stated that he did not run the universities and highlighted that a university must be free to make the decisions itself. He added that strategic financial support had been given in the past for the support of specific departments such as a physics department.

Phil Wilson (Lab, Sedgefield) asked what else the government was doing to support science and innovation, to which Denham replied that investment was increasing.

Tony Baldry (Banbury) then called for more funding for skills and training out of the recession. He drew attention to £2bn that had been provided to the Department for Work and Pensions, and stressed that capital projects would provide jobs and capital spending.

Denham reported there was £100m for extra investment in further education colleges and an extra £100m in higher education institutions.

Andy Slaughter (Lab, Ealing, Acton & Shepherd's Bush) welcomed the 64 per cent rise in support of higher education and criticised the proposed Conservative cuts.

David Lammy concurred that a £600m cut from the Conservatives would be "disastrous".

Sir Nicholas Winterton (Con, Macclesfield) asked if Macclesfield College and other colleges can play a strong part in the upskilling.

Denham agreed that investment in colleges was vital. He said that the best way to support this was to oppose the proposed Conservative cuts.

Ben Chapman (Wirral South) announced that support was needed not just for apprenticeships but also for travel to work.

Sion Simon stated that there would be continued investment.

Peter Bone (Con, Wellingborough) highlighted the case of a further education college in his own constituency which needed expansion money. He accused the government of failing to invest fully.

Denham pointed out that the fault lay with the Learning and Skills Council and stressed that a report was in progress.

Andrew Love (Lab/Co-op, Edmonton) called for employer awareness of the 'skills for life' programmes to be raised.

Sion Simon stressed that 2.8 million people had basic skills under 'skills for life' as a result of the proposal.

Andrew Stunell (Lib Dem, Hazel Grove) asked a further question about the Learnning and Skills Council.

Denham pointed out the Bill going through parliament – the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill – does abolish the LSC.

Liz Blackman (Lab, Erewash) raised concerns about rising company budgets and rising family spending having a negative impact on college support.

Denham warned about the colleges that do not claim appropriately. He suggested that to keep the financial support under review could damage those that claim full financial support.

Finally, Rob Wilson (Con, Reading East) called for a greater integration of different vocational courses, to which Denham replied that the department was looking into vocational qualifications at all levels becoming integrated. He used the example of US style community colleges to illustrate his point.