Government Employment Strategy

The hon. Gentleman is putting the Committee’s case eloquently. Does he agree that one of our other concerns about Leitch was that some of the traditional groups helped by the skills agenda—particularly those in middle or older age returning to work either because they have been caring or fulfilling family responsibilities or because they have been made redundant for a period—are not necessarily well catered for? They tend to have skills that are already above level 2—Leitch made the point that level 3 skills are equally important. Because such people are not in employment and do not have an employer to fall back on, the Government seem to saying, in paragraph 39 of their reply, that they will not help either, and that the cost will fall on the individuals themselves. That means that middle-aged people who are currently jobless and in need of a little reskilling are, effectively, being left in the lurch.