Stephen
Metcalfe MP: welcomes new apprenticeship figures in Basildon and Thurrock
Local MP Stephen Metcalfe
has welcomed new figures showing 760 new apprenticeships were started by people
in the South Basildon & East Thurrock constituency last year. In total,
3320 new apprenticeships have been started in South Basildon & East Thurrock
since 2010.
Across England more than
1.9 million apprenticeships have been started since 2010 – with the number of
apprenticeships having more than doubled in this parliament.
As the Prime Minister
announced on Monday a future Conservative government would go even further:
making a £1 billion commitment to deliver 3 million apprenticeships by 2020 and
end youth unemployment, funded by reducing the maximum amount that can be
claimed on benefits from £26,000 to £23,000, and limiting young people’s access
to housing benefit.
Stephen Metcalfe
commented: “These latest figures are great news. Under the Conservatives, more
and more young people are getting the skills they need for their future
careers.
Youth unemployment as a
whole is down 253,000 over the past year, the largest annual fall since records
began.
And I am pleased to see
that a future Conservative government would go even further, with a £1 billion
commitment to deliver 3 million apprenticeships by 2020 and to put an end to
youth unemployment.
By making sure, as part of
our long-term economic plan, we deliver the best schools and skills for young
people the Conservatives are ensuring the next generation have the skills and
opportunities they’ll need to get a good job – so they can have a brighter,
more secure future ahead of them.”
