presenter tackled Minister of State for Skills Jacqui Smith about the increase in employers national insurance telling her businesses couldn’t afford to employ apprentices because of it.
Baroness Smith appeared on the show to discuss a plan to change the requirements needed to qulaify for an apprenticeship and the proposal that, up to the age of 25, an employer won’t pay National Insurance contributions on that apprentice. “There are lots of really good arguments why employers should take on apprentices. It’s good for them. It’s really good for the country,” she said.
Susanna then asked: “Should employers be swapping their more expensive employees and putting cheaper apprentices in their place?”
“No, of course, they shouldn’t… what we need to see is whether or not it is apprentices…employers need our help to up skill people when they’re already in work,” the Labour MP argued,
“So if you think about the strategy, you’re encouraging employers to take on apprentices because then they could avoid the national insurane hike,” Susanna put to her.
Susanna Reid challenged Jacqui Smith about National Insurance on Good Morning Britain (Image: ITV)
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