SKILLS FUNDING AGENCY AND APPRENTICESHIPS

Early day motion 2110, tabled 19 July 2011 by Jim Cunningham (Labour). Signed by 35 members.

That this House regrets the proposed closure of some ofthe Skills Funding Agency's regional offices; opposes these closures and cutbacks which will lead to the loss of 430 jobs this year; acknowledges the economic importance of young people taking up apprenticeships; notes that 257,000 over-19s took up an apprenticeship in 2010-11; welcomes the Government's policy of providing extra funding for apprenticeships to 2014-15; is therefore concerned that the 25 per cent. cut to the Agency's budget will result in the axing of all 25 posts responsible for assuring health and safety assessments of workplaces offering apprenticeships; rejects the Government's claim that the Health and Safety Executive, which is facing a 35 per cent. cut to 2014-15, will be able to assume this responsibility without detriment to the assessment regime required to protect apprentices from dangerous workplaces; further notes that the health and safety regime administered by the Agency was introduced in response to the deaths ofnine apprentices in the workplace in 2003; and calls on the Government to reconsider this policy and to meet the relavent trade unions to discuss these matters.

Signatures by party: Labour 30, DUP 2, Green 1, Independent 1, Liberal Democrat 1.