BRITISH Aerospace in Lancashire's proposal to attract 15 to 17-year-olds with the promise of help towards a university education and a high-tech job to follow has been praised as a blueprint for the future.

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans, said: "British Aerospace is leading the way."

The Tory MP said the firm was "Looking to expand education through a university for life so that it can attract some 15 to 17-year-olds to enter university to obtain the necessary and right skills that will enable them to take employment with the company.

"It is indeed vital that we achieve the right training. If we fail in that the country will be the loser.

"British Aerospace is leading the way. I hope that other industries will examine carefully what it is doing and join it and follow suit."

Mr Evans, speaking in an economic debate in the Commons, said that to succeed in a highly competitive market BAe had to invest in its workforce, its plants and in the type of research development that it helps produce European Fighter aircraft."

And he attacked Labour over its criticism of the arms industry during the debate on the Scott Report which he said could damage the exports and jobs at BAe.

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