Two-thirds more apprenticeships ended in redundancy as Covid hit employers, BBC figures show.
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BBC News
Gillian Keegan
MP presses minister on future of Newton Rigg training
An education minister has told the Penrith MP Neil Hudson that her officials are exploring what can be done to support people needing the sort of training that may be lost with the closure of Newton Rigg College.
It has been earmarked for closure in July 2021 after an independent review found the site was not financially viable.
In the House of Commons yesterday, the further education minister Gillian Keegan told Dr Hudson that her officials were "working with the college and stakeholders to ensure that learners and communities in and around Eden Valley continue to have access to high-quality further education."
Dr Hudson said: "I am delighted that the further education minister agreed that further dducation colleges are vital for supporting young people in rural communities to get the skills they need."
Copyright: Neil HudsonBreakingCHICHESTER RESULT: Conservative hold
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Video caption: Technology and politics: Susskind, Ashworth, Keegan, Lewis, Jarvis Looking at the role of fake news, technology firms, the printed press and social media in election campaigning
Listen: MPs comment on Sheffield's tree-felling saga
The BBC understands there will be an immediate pause in tree felling in Sheffield.
There have been protests and criticism of the PFI (Private Finance Initiative) project to improved the city's roads and pavements, which has led to trees being removed by the contractor AMEY.
Last week the Secretary of State for the Environment Michael Gove commented on the situation.
Labour MP Rachel Reeves has welcomed the decision to halt the work:
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Video caption: MPs on Sheffield's tree felling saga Meanwhile, Conservative MP Gillian Keegan says the situation seems to have spiralled unnecessarily:
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Video caption: Mps on Sheffield tree felling saga Keegan Video content
Video caption: Attracting new MPs: Layla Moran and Gillian Keegan Two of Parliament's newest MPs recount how they ended up in Parliament at the 2017 election.
