Local MP Nickie Aiken gave the following intervention in the Chamber today during the Second reading of the Unpaid Work Experience (Probation) Bill.
“Does the Minister agree that it is important from a work experience point of view to consider younger children? When I was leader of Westminster City Council, I introduced the Westminster Lions scheme, which targeted 13 to 15-year-olds. That was about giving them experience not necessarily in the office, but of talking to employers and sectors about potential career opportunities for teenagers, ensuring that they could make the right career choices as they went to college and further education.”
In response to her intervention Paul Scully MP, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, said,
“I commend my hon. Friend for the work that she and Westminster City Council have done in this area, because it is so important to give opportunities. I will talk a little bit about social mobility, which is the point of what she did. Certainly on this side of the House, we like to remind ourselves that we are the party of opportunity. It is all about creating opportunities and making sure that everybody in this country—whatever their background, their family situation, their housing situation, their gender, creed or race—can grab hold of those opportunities and fulfil their potential.”
You can watch Nickie and Paul’s exchange above.
