Speeches by Hobhouse.

“For under-represented groups, or the long-term unemployed, is there anything you would seek in order to widen participation? What is it that stops participation in those jobs? Is it about childcare, for example, or long-term unemployment? What could widen participation?”

“Do you think there is any role for jobcentres to support what we have discussed today? What about more support for jobcentres, or more guidance for them on how they can help applicants?”

“They also help with applications. If you go to a jobcentre, they support an application and that sort of thing. I know that the Chair wants to move on, but do you have any ideas about how to support that?”

“In your experience, how responsive are individual workers and smaller employers to changes in Government skills funding? You have already touched on some of the Government programmes. When the Government have a very big stake in something, it is obviously the Government’s responsibility, but what about the private empl…”

“If you are looking at the skills gaps, I think you mentioned earlier that it takes time, from the beginning, to get people through the whole of a career. What could the Government do in the short term to address the skills gaps? What type of funding, policies and frameworks would you, if you were the Government, put in…”

“Do you think that having a heat pump that you can mess around with in some sort of small employer’s place, where people can try it out and see what works and does not work, would really make a difference? Is that what you are saying?”

“I am trying to understand how I should think about it. They are given the heat pumps and are told, “Install it in your house”?”

“Okay, in their own home—sorry. Understood.”

“But should they not then also write a write-up of what went wrong—a script for people to avoid the mistakes they have made? Should that not be part of it?”

“This section is a little bit about required skills levels and widening participation. The Committee has already sort of established in a previous session that, ultimately, raising standards is not really the issue around recruitment. Would you agree? There are other reasons why recruitment in the sector can be tricky, …”

“Yes, for the green construction future.”

“For under-represented groups, or the long-term unemployed, is there anything you would seek in order to widen participation? What is it that stops participation in those jobs? Is it about childcare, for example, or long-term unemployment? What could widen participation?”

“Do you think there is any role for jobcentres to support what we have discussed today? What about more support for jobcentres, or more guidance for them on how they can help applicants?”

“They also help with applications. If you go to a jobcentre, they support an application and that sort of thing. I know that the Chair wants to move on, but do you have any ideas about how to support that?”

“In your experience, how responsive are individual workers and smaller employers to changes in Government skills funding? You have already touched on some of the Government programmes. When the Government have a very big stake in something, it is obviously the Government’s responsibility, but what about the private empl…”

“If you are looking at the skills gaps, I think you mentioned earlier that it takes time, from the beginning, to get people through the whole of a career. What could the Government do in the short term to address the skills gaps? What type of funding, policies and frameworks would you, if you were the Government, put in…”

“Do you think that having a heat pump that you can mess around with in some sort of small employer’s place, where people can try it out and see what works and does not work, would really make a difference? Is that what you are saying?”

“Does the hon. Lady agree that it is shame that there has not been recognition from the Dispatch Box that there would be no premier league if there was no grassroots football? The better our grassroots football, the better the league will be.”

“I remind Members that they should bob if they wish to be called to speak.”

“I am grateful to the hon. Member for giving notice of his point of order. He has put his correction on the record.”