Speeches by Eastwood.

“Do you think there is a level playing field at the minute between apprenticeships and higher-level apprenticeships compared with people leaving school in year 14 and going to university? Is it a level playing field?”

“Yes, it is a real barrier. You have mentioned FE colleges. Do you think there is a disparity between schools—because it is post-primary—encouraging young people into the likes of manufacturing and engineering, as opposed to everyone just going down the university route?”

“I suppose that there is also a problem because you have the national insurance contributions. We have heard, certainly in my constituency—and I can validate that—that it has been a huge barrier to businesses wanting to invest. You have said that investing in young people is a risk for a business. I can understand the r…”

“Absolutely, and I could not agree with you more, Sam. I am really glad that we went through that iterative process to explain to people the problems that it is actually creating rather than enabling. I used to work in manufacturing. I am very passionate about it. You used the word “heritage” earlier, and you said that …”

“My question is about skills. What engagement have you had with the UK Government and the Department for the Economy on sectoral action plans for skills and workforce development?”

“Is that with the Department for the Economy or the UK Government?”

“How does that money come back to Northern Ireland?”

“Okay, so there has been no engagement with the Department for the Economy?”

“You have had no meetings with officials or Ministers, or anything like that?”

“The reason I am asking is because skills and economy are largely devolved in terms of what we want to do in Northern Ireland, and the way forward. However, we have a huge issue with skills, particularly in manufacturing. The apprenticeship levy, as far as I am concerned, needs reviewing immediately. What is your unders…”

“Just so people are aware, businesses in Northern Ireland that are eligible to pay the levy pay the levy.”

“Do you think there is a level playing field at the minute between apprenticeships and higher-level apprenticeships compared with people leaving school in year 14 and going to university? Is it a level playing field?”

“Yes, it is a real barrier. You have mentioned FE colleges. Do you think there is a disparity between schools—because it is post-primary—encouraging young people into the likes of manufacturing and engineering, as opposed to everyone just going down the university route?”

“I suppose that there is also a problem because you have the national insurance contributions. We have heard, certainly in my constituency—and I can validate that—that it has been a huge barrier to businesses wanting to invest. You have said that investing in young people is a risk for a business. I can understand the r…”

“The reason I am asking is because skills and economy are largely devolved in terms of what we want to do in Northern Ireland, and the way forward. However, we have a huge issue with skills, particularly in manufacturing. The apprenticeship levy, as far as I am concerned, needs reviewing immediately. What is your unders…”

“Absolutely, and I could not agree with you more, Sam. I am really glad that we went through that iterative process to explain to people the problems that it is actually creating rather than enabling. I used to work in manufacturing. I am very passionate about it. You used the word “heritage” earlier, and you said that …”

“How does that money come back to Northern Ireland?”

“Do you want to talk people through that?”

“You have had no meetings with officials or Ministers, or anything like that?”

“Just so people are aware, businesses in Northern Ireland that are eligible to pay the levy pay the levy.”