Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to support employment by increasing skills levels in the engineering, construction and trades based sectors.
Answer
The Department for Work and Pensions is committed to supporting employment and addressing skills shortages in engineering, construction and trade-based sectors that are critical to delivering economic growth, homes and infrastructure. The Government has announced a £600 million package to strengthen construction skills and training, helping to increase workforce capacity and create more opportunities for people to enter and progress in skilled construction careers. Alongside this investment, Skills England is leading the Skills for Work programme, a strategic review of occupational standards and the apprenticeships and technical qualifications that underpin them, to ensure skills provision continues to meet the needs of employers and the wider economy. Recent developments include the introduction of the Level 2 General Builder apprenticeship, new Level 2 and Level 3 Plumbing apprenticeships, and a new apprenticeship unit in Permanent Modular Building Assembly to support upskilling within the sector. Key engineering apprenticeships have also been updated, apprenticeship assessment arrangements streamlined, and construction training aligned with evolving industry competence frameworks and the requirements of the Building Safety Act.27% vibes
Verdict: GREEN (85/100)
The reply directly answers the question about what the government is doing to raise skills and support employment in these sectors. It names concrete measures: a £600 million construction skills package, a Skills for Work review led by Skills England, and new or updated apprenticeships in areas such as general building, plumbing, modular building assembly and engineering. The answer is specific and committed, so the person who asked should have enough to move on without needing to resubmit the question.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| What is the department doing to support employment by increasing skills levels in the engineering, construction and trades-based sectors? | Addressed | Direct | The reply names concrete measures for skills in these sectors: a £600 million construction skills package, the Skills for Work review led by Skills England, and new or updated apprenticeships (General Builder, plumbing, modular building assembly, engineering). Together these answer what the department is doing to raise skills levels and support employment. |