4. Question No. 4—EducationMARJA LUBECK (Labour) to the Minister of EducationQuestion No. 4—Education4. MARJA LUBECK (Labour) to the Minister of Education: What decisions has the Government taken on investing in training and education for people who have lost their jobs or who want to move into a different sector?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister of Education): The Government's trades and apprenticeships training package will pay the cost of learners of all ages to undertake vocational education and training over the next 2½ years. The initial set of targeted areas that will qualify for this support starting on 1 July this year and for the rest of 2020 include primary industries building and construction community support manufacturing mechanical engineering and technology electrical engineering and road transport. Further details are available on the Tertiary Education Commission website. Circumstances dictated that we needed to move fast so for the beginning of 2021 we'll be refining these initial targeted areas to reflect the work that's under way across Government to better understand how industry workforce needs are being affected by COVID-19 and what skills will be needed to support the country's economic recovery.Marja Lubeck: Will apprentices have the same eligibility as people in other forms of training?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: No. All apprenticeships including those outside of the targeted areas will be eligible for the fees support. This is aimed at industries that are expected to be particularly hard hit by COVID-19 including hospitality tourism and food where we want employers to keep their apprentices on and we'll be supporting them to do so.Marja Lubeck: What response has he seen to the trades and apprenticeships training package?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: A very very warm response—heaps. Master Builders' representatives have said it's going to ease the burden of young guys wanting to get into the trade because it's a cost they won't have to bear. David Seymour: Just guys?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Otago—well yes that's right; there'll be some women wanting to get into the trades as well. The Otago Secondary Principals' Association have said the initiative would open doors to employment for school leavers at a time when many were closing. Representatives of the viticulturists' industry have said that it's really exciting for them. And the Southern Institute of Technology chief executive Penny Simmonds has said We believe the minister's release of initial programmes for supported training to aid Covid-19 recovery will stimulate demand for a number of … programmes SIT has expertise in. … This may mean SIT will need to run additional intakes but we are well prepared … [and] able to do that."Marja Lubeck: Are the industries suffering the most economic harm such as hospitality tourism and retail missing out on this fund?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: No. We want to provide training options particularly where people are enrolled in pre-employment programmes that will lead them to strong job prospects. It doesn't make sense to encourage people to train in areas if the jobs aren't currently there. On the other hand those who are already in training and on job training we want them to complete their qualifications which is why we're supporting existing apprentices in those areas to complete their apprenticeships. That means that we're supporting those whose employment could otherwise be adversely affected by COVID19."