§ 8. Mr. LoveWhat representations he has received from the retail sector about the new deal. [29886]
§ Mr. Andrew SmithI have had discussions with representatives from retail organisations about the new deal for young people, and have been very pleased with the enthusiasm and commitment that they have shown. Many retail organisations have already signed national employer agreements, including Dixons, W H Smith, Tesco and Sainsbury.
§ Mr. LoveI thank the Minister for that reply. Is he aware that many young people eligible for the new deal will want to work in the retail sector? The agreement whereby in-house training provided by retail companies can be translated into National Vocational Qualifications has been warmly welcomed within the industry. Will he ensure that all future arrangements include the same combination of high-quality education and appropriate qualifications to ensure the long-term job prospects of the young people involved?
§ Mr. SmithYes, indeed. It is a core requirement of every aspect of the new deal that it should supply high-quality training to a recognised standard. That is why the agreement that we have reached with the retail industry is not only of value in ensuring that well-regarded in-house training arrangements are translatable into progress and NVQs, but is a model for framework agreements in other sectors which we shall also be pursuing.