Britain one of "great global leaders" - PM

26 November

Britain can be "one of the great global leaders" of the 21st century through long-term economic management, the PM has said.

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In a speech to the Confederation of British Industry in London, Mr Brown said that it was imperative to equip people with the skills and education they need to play a role in a changing economy. The PM stressed the importance of the Government's plans to expand apprenticeships and increase the education leaving age from 16 to 18.

The PM said:

"Since June we have stepped up reforms in our schools and in the coming weeks we will publish our Children's Plan, founded on an historic change in the span of schooling and the range and quality of learning - in the classroom and beyond it. Our aim that every teenager goes on to college, university or an apprenticeship or is preparing for this."

As well as tackling employability through skills and training, the PM said that the Government would take a long-term approach to the economic stability and quality of infrastructure in the UK. He said the Government was committed to spending £20 billion a year on transport to 2017, to securing sustainable energy supplies and to establishing "managed migration" policies that align population movements to labour market needs.

The PM also promised to continue reform of decision-making processes around planning and business regulation and to look again at changes to Capital Gains Tax announced in the Pre-Budget Report in October.

Pledging to "hold a stable course" for the British economy, Mr Brown said there would be "no unaffordable promises" that might damage the country's ability to deal with turbulent economic developments such as credit squeezes and rising oil prices. He also pointed to announcements on training initiatives and welfare reforms to be made later today by Skills Secretary John Denham and Work and Pensions Secretary Peter Hain respectively.

• Education changes "vital for the future of our country" - PM
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Image copyright: Reuters