NATIONAL SKILLS FORUM REPORT ON CLOSING THE SKILLS GAP

That this House welcomes the National Skills Forum and Associate Parliamentary Skills Group's new report based on seven months of evidence-taking and investigation titled, Closing the Gender Skills Gap; notes that it proposes a number of ways to close the gap which would both benefit the economy substantially and also reduce the pay and opportunity gap between men and women; further welcomes its wide ranging recommendations on combating stereotyping about jobs and careers in information, advice and guidance to young women, as well as on increasing access and flexibility to education and training for older women wishing to improve their skills and return to employment with a proper work, life and family balance; and calls on the Government to consider the analysis and recommendations of the report, which are made even more relevant in a time of economic downturn.