Lord Rose of Monewden: To ask His Majesty's Government, given the opening of the University of Chester medical school, and the forthcoming opening of a new medical school at the University of Surrey, what plans they have to increase the current cap of 7,500 funded medical places in England; and if they have any such plans, by how many they will increase the cap.
Lord Rose of Monewden: To ask His Majesty's Government when they will publish the NHS workforce plan; whether it will include specific numbers for the (1) recruitment, and (2) training, of additional (a) doctors, (b) nurses, and (c) allied medical staff, needed.
Lord Rose of Monewden: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Murray of Blidworth on 8 November (HL3116), whether they have since asked the Migration Advisory Committee to pause their review; and if so, (1) when, and (2) for what purpose; and when they expect completion of the review.
Lord Rose of Monewden: To ask His Majesty's Government why they have reduced the number of funded university places for trainee doctors from 10,000 to 7,500 per annum in England.
Lord Rose of Monewden: To ask His Majesty's Government which universities are offering medical school places to overseas students only; and how many students are enrolled on those courses in the current academic year.
Lord Rose of Monewden: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of the Temporary Worker Seasonal Worker visa; and what plans they have, if any, to revise the scheme.
Lord Rose of Monewden: To ask His Majesty's Government when they will next ask the Migration Advisory Committee to update the Shortage Occupation List.
Lord Rose of Monewden: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will ask the Migration Advisory Committee (1) to review skills shortages in the retail and hospitality sectors, and (2) to make recommendations to Government about potential visa routes for overseas workers to fill vacancies in those sectors.
Lord Rose of Monewden: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to assist families further in relation to the rise in the cost of living; and whether any such plans include (1) introducing a lower rate of VAT for fuel, and (2) reducing the general rate of VAT.
Lord Rose of Monewden: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the benefits, and (2) the disadvantages, of the Education and Skills Funding Agency’s lagged funding mechanism in assisting businesses to have a pipeline of employees with the skills they need to help the economy to build back better after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lord Rose of Monewden: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have (1) to change policy so that funding for further education follows the learner, and (2) to scrap the lagged funding mechanism used by the Education and Skills Funding Agency.
Lord Rose of Monewden: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to review the effectiveness of the Education and Skills Funding Agency in supporting the UK's recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic; and what plans they have to bring the work of the Education and Skills Funding Agency back under direct ministerial control.
Lord Rose of Monewden: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Office for National Statistics’ Employment in the UK data, published on 23 March, which showed that 63 per cent of payroll jobs lost during the COVID-19 pandemic had been held by workers under the age of 25, what steps they will take to ensure that young people have access to education and training that is focussed on the skills and...
Lord Rose of Monewden: I thank the Minister for her reply. Sadly, the reality is different from the Government’s rhetoric. Employers and the Fashion Retail Academy have done what the Government have asked of them: they have worked together to design courses that will equip young people with the skills that this hard-hit retail industry needs as it adapts to the changes in the way people are shopping—changes...
Lord Rose of Monewden: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the employment of young people; and what steps they are taking to address youth unemployment.
Lord Rose of Monewden: I thank the Minister for her reply. The unemployment rate for young people aged between 16 and 24 is, at 14.2%, almost three times higher than the general rate of 5%. I applaud the Government for their Kickstart and apprenticeship programmes, which will, I hope, supported by industry, provide work-based learning and experience to give our young people the skills and confidence necessary to be...
Lord Rose of Monewden: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact on unemployment of any decision by the administrators of (1) Debenhams, and (2) Arcadia, not to seek deals which (a) retain staff, and (b) keep stores open; and what steps they are taking to support jobs in the retail sector.
Lord Rose of Monewden: My Lords, the Fashion Retail Academy works with employers to provide young people skills and practical experience to meet the evolving needs of the industry. In normal circumstances, 96% of its students—more than 1,000 a year—go into permanent jobs. Does the Minister agree that the FRA and other national academies play a vital role in supporting youth employment and that the Government...
Lord Rose of Monewden: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to extend the business rates holiday beyond April 2021 for (1) retail, and (2) hospitality and leisure, businesses.
