Hansard

Yes, I totally agree, but, depressingly, the example that the member gave is just one in 20 years. I know that that was supposed to be positive, but we have to do a lot more than we are doing just now.

I do not want to have a prolonged discussion about the Government’s cuts to colleges during a debate on apprenticeships, but I cannot fail to mention them and their disproportionate effect on women. There has been a drop of 41 per cent in the number of women at college in Scotland since 2007-08. How can we expect women to reach their potential if we are pulling the ladder out from underneath them in that way?

Following the publication of the Government's response to the Wood commission, I wrote to the minister and asked her about the Government’s plans to tackle occupational segregation in the workforce more broadly. I was heartened by her response, in which she outlined some of the pilots that the Government was sponsoring, and I hope that similar schemes will prove to be effective in challenging gender segregation in the workplace.

I have received correspondence from SDS about the concerns that I have raised in Parliament that the modern apprenticeship programme does not deliver—and not only for women but for protected groups in general under the Equality Act 2010. I do not doubt the sincerity of the commitment of those at SDS to protecting our vulnerable groups, but I think that the organisation could do more.

In October 2013, I asked the then minister Angela Constance how many of the people participating in the programme identified as being part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. The letter that I received from Mr Danny Logue, SDS director of operations, made it clear that the organisation does not gather that information. For a public body that is tasked with ensuring that a programme is representative to neglect gathering that most basic information is unacceptable.

Similarly, in December 2013, I asked the Government how many people in the modern apprenticeship programme had a learning difficulty. The response that I received from SDS was that, although it asks about disability, it does not differentiate between physical and mental challenges. The only question that is asked of applicants is:

“Do you have a mental or a physical impairment which has a long term and adverse effect on your ability to perform normal day to day activities?”

There is no opportunity for candidates to elaborate—a yes or no is all that is required. Given that the challenges facing those who identify as having a physical disability and those who have a complex mental health issue are so different, by any standard they should not be lumped together. No useful information can be gained from such a narrow and standardised test.

We have to look at protection for apprentices who are currently serving their time and whose employers are facing redundancies. I know that the issue has been spoken about before, but a lot more could and should be done in the area.

I recently had the pleasure of attending the young Scotland’s got talent Lanarkshire event in my region. The event was a great example of third sector and private sector groups coming together with local authorities to help young people with complex conditions achieve their potential. The event appealed to the aspirations of those who attended and encouraged employers to offer an opportunity, through a job or an apprenticeship, to motivated young people with conditions such as autism. Among the attendees, there was agreement that, if support networks are in place and opportunities are available, young Scots of various backgrounds could reach their potential. There was a sense that, if we work together, we can achieve so much more.

I believe that, across the chamber, there is much in the way of common ground and common purpose on the issue. We on the Labour benches are happy to support the Government’s motion. However, more work needs to be done to increase the number of apprenticeships that are taken up by women and by LGBT and black, Asian and minority ethnic people. That is why, if we are serious, we must support Labour’s amendment.

I move amendment S4M-13112.3, to insert at end:

“; further believes that the Scottish Government should use Scottish Apprenticeship Week as a platform to draw attention to the findings of the Equality and Human Rights Commission report, Modern Apprenticeships, Equality & The Economy: Spreading the Benefits, which raised concerns regarding low levels of disabled people in modern apprenticeships, and recognises that more work needs to be done in raising the number of apprenticeships being taken up by women and LGBT and black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) people”.