Esther McVey: I am delighted that this important matter is being debated in the Chamber today. However, as it is an important and complex matter, I would very much like this to be the start of a discussion on careers advice for all ages, so that we can create a much greater awareness of the issue as a whole. It is because of the scope of the topic of today's debate that I shall focus on careers advice for...
Esther McVey: I have two hon. Members seeking to make an intervention-like buses, two have come along at the same time. I will give way first to my friend from Walton.
Esther McVey: I do not believe that that is what is happening. Not only have I read out quotations from other people, but when the right hon. Member for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath commissioned a report into the matter, he said that the project in question had been expensive and had not worked. I also specifically said that I was not looking at the staff individually, because so many of them are well...
Esther McVey: My hon. Friend makes a key point, which I was going to touch on a little later. Did the requirements on schools perhaps produce some distortion, pushing children down a university route that might not benefit them all? That is why I am asking for far more sophisticated careers advice, so that each child gets the career outlet that is best for them, and not necessarily one that produces extra...
Esther McVey: What the hon. Lady has said is vital, which is why we are here today. We are saying that such a situation could be on the horizon, so we need to capture the people I mentioned. However, when Members on both sides of the House have said that Connexions is not working, failing and an expensive experiment, it shows that the system is wrong. It is not the people who are wrong but the system, so...
Esther McVey: The hon. Gentleman has hit the nail on the head. He has identified one of the key flaws in the careers advice that is currently provided. As he says, apprenticeships have equal standing. Careers advice should take account of the abilities and capabilities of the individual, and should aim for the complete fulfilment of that person. We need to increase understanding of the status of...
Esther McVey: The petition has 833 signatures and states: To the House of Commons, The Petition of supporters of Families Fighting For Justice and others in Wirral, Cheshire, Merseyside, Declares that the Petitioners are concerned about the wording of section 170 of the Ministry of Justice Green Paper, Breaking the Cycle: Effective Punishment, Rehabilitation and Sentencing of Offenders, regarding the...
Esther McVey: I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Kingswood (Chris Skidmore) on securing this debate. It is wonderful to see so many Members here despite the imminent recess. My hon. Friend the Member for Amber Valley (Nigel Mills) hit on a key point when he talked about practicalities, the reality and individual choice. In my constituency, this is such a hot topic that should I call such a...
Esther McVey: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what recent assessment the Government Equalities Office has made of the gender pay gap.
Esther McVey: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what discussions she has had with ministerial colleagues on the representation of women on the boards of local enterprise partnerships; and if she will make a statement.
Esther McVey: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what steps the Government Equalities Office is taking to increase the number of female role models in (a) schools, (b) businesses and (c) public services.
Esther McVey: The Institution of Mechanical Engineers has produced a report noting that broad choices about STEM subjects are taken between the ages of 11 and 14. I agree with looking at A-level science subjects, but should we not concentrate particularly on helping younger children progress into science and maths?
Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to assist science and technology research institutions in contributing to economic growth.
Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education on the future of science research and expertise in England.
Esther McVey: I congratulate my hon. Friend on securing this debate and beating me to it. I wish to raise the issues faced by a constituent who looked after her husband 24/7 until he passed away in 2006. He suffered from hallucinations, paranoia and depression. He also had falls, lost consciousness and regularly became violent towards her, all of which put a lot of pressure on their relationship and left...
Esther McVey: May I ask the Leader of the House to make time for a debate on careers advice in school? Although I welcome the coalition's plans to introduce an all-age service, we need to ensure universal, specialist careers advice for all our young children, that starts in schools from a very young age and does not impose plans from the top down. I believe that all hon. Members should debate that before...
Esther McVey: If he will take steps to encourage community ownership of local assets and facilities.
Esther McVey: Does the Minister agree that the Government need to do more to empower communities to improve their local areas and take over amenities, such as community centres and allotments? What steps will the Government take to ensure that those initiatives are taken up in the forthcoming localism Bill?
Esther McVey: I congratulate my hon. Friend on securing the debate. During the past couple of years in Liverpool and Merseyside, there has been considerable regeneration both as a result of speculative build and because people really wanted to put their heart into the city to develop and grow it. The tax on empty properties has stopped that process in its tracks because people wanted to look for secondary...
Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what timetable he has set for the planned rail electrification between Manchester, Liverpool, Preston and Blackpool foreseen in the outcome of the comprehensive spending review.