Asked by: Kim Johnson (Labour - Liverpool Riverside)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues in the Department for Transport regarding Skills England’s live review of maritime apprenticeship standards.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government recognises the importance of maritime apprenticeships in helping employers develop a skilled workforce. Ministers and officials engage regularly with colleagues across Government on matters relating to skills and workforce development, including sectors of strategic importance such as maritime.
Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 4 June 2026 to Question 4161, on Government departments: marketing, how much has been spent on branded goods and merchandise by (a) the department and (b) each of its Arm’s Length Bodies since the Government Chief Commercial Officer letter was sent; on what items, and at what cost.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
DWP Policy states that money shouldn’t be spent on non-essential branded merchandise. The distribution of branded merchandise is to be restricted to instances where it is truly necessary; for example, where expenditure on merchandise is necessary for operational purposes.
No expenditure occurs in our central records for the core department.
This table outlines responses for DWP’s Arm’s Length Bodies:
Arm’s Length Body | How much has been spent on branded goods and merchandise by the Arm’s Length Body? (b) | What items and what cost? (b) |
Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) | CITB have spent £88,336.56 (inclusive of VAT) on promotional merchandise since joining DWP on 1st April 2026. CITB has advised that some expenditure relates to branded event assets, such as roller banners and table cloths, rather than merchandise. | The largest areas of spend were exhibition bags (£8,748), branded ballpens (£8,904), metal bottles (£7,272), travel tumblers (£5,808) and other promotional materials used to support engagement activities and events. The expenditure reported by CITB formed part of the delivery of their core statutory functions as industry training bodies, including engagement with employers, learners and training providers, and support for industry events, exhibitions and skills promotion activities. The items purchased were used in connection with those activities. |
Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) | ECITB have spent £8,153.15 (inclusive of VAT) since joining DWP on 1st April. | The largest items of spend were products and services catalogues (£1,917), strategy booklets (£755), awards trophies (£525.48), strategy and promotional roller banners (£643.80 combined), and branded clothing for the Learning & Assurance team (£361.09). Expenditure also included business cards, flyers and other printed materials used to support engagement activities and events. The expenditure reported by ECITB formed part of the delivery of their core statutory functions as industry training bodies, including engagement with employers, learners and training providers, and support for industry events, exhibitions and skills promotion activities. The items purchased were used in connection with those activities. While DWP policy does not permit expenditure on promotional merchandise because it is not considered an appropriate use of public money, the Industrial Training Boards operate under different funding arrangements. Their activities are funded predominantly through employer levies raised from their respective industries rather than through general taxation. As industry training bodies, they undertake significant engagement with employers, learners and training providers, including participation in sector events, exhibitions and skills promotion activities, where branded materials and promotional collateral are used to support the delivery of their statutory functions. |
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) | £14,885. HSE does not have promotional merchandise per- se. The items in column 3 are branded stationery items that are provided on HSE’s externally facing training courses and events, to contain delegate packs, handouts etc. The cost of these items is built into the price paid by their customers/delegates, so is fully recovered via commercial revenue. | 1000 Training delegate ring binders: £3,210 (Jul 25, Dec 25) 2000 Training delegate tote bags: £1,805 (Oct 25, Feb 26, Aug 26) 2500 Training and events pens: £1,525 (Dec 25, Aug 26) |
Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) | £740.40 in the 2026/27 financial year to date. | Two pull-up banners: £356.42 Exhibition materials: £383.98 |
The Pensions Regulator (TPR) | Zero. | Zero |
The Pension Ombudsman (TPO) | Zero | Zero |
Skills England | Zero | |
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the answer of 4 June 2026 to Question 4161 on Government departments: marketing, how much has been spent on branded goods and merchandise by his Department since the Government Chief Commercial Officer letter was sent; on what items; and at what cost.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
DWP Policy states that money shouldn’t be spent on non-essential branded merchandise. The distribution of branded merchandise is to be restricted to instances where it is truly necessary; for example, where expenditure on merchandise is necessary for operational purposes.
No expenditure occurs in our central records for the core department.
This table outlines responses for DWP’s Arm’s Length Bodies:
Arm’s Length Body | How much has been spent on branded goods and merchandise by the Arm’s Length Body? (b) | What items and what cost? (b) |
Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) | CITB have spent £88,336.56 (inclusive of VAT) on promotional merchandise since joining DWP on 1st April 2026. CITB has advised that some expenditure relates to branded event assets, such as roller banners and table cloths, rather than merchandise. | The largest areas of spend were exhibition bags (£8,748), branded ballpens (£8,904), metal bottles (£7,272), travel tumblers (£5,808) and other promotional materials used to support engagement activities and events. The expenditure reported by CITB formed part of the delivery of their core statutory functions as industry training bodies, including engagement with employers, learners and training providers, and support for industry events, exhibitions and skills promotion activities. The items purchased were used in connection with those activities. |
Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) | ECITB have spent £8,153.15 (inclusive of VAT) since joining DWP on 1st April. | The largest items of spend were products and services catalogues (£1,917), strategy booklets (£755), awards trophies (£525.48), strategy and promotional roller banners (£643.80 combined), and branded clothing for the Learning & Assurance team (£361.09). Expenditure also included business cards, flyers and other printed materials used to support engagement activities and events. The expenditure reported by ECITB formed part of the delivery of their core statutory functions as industry training bodies, including engagement with employers, learners and training providers, and support for industry events, exhibitions and skills promotion activities. The items purchased were used in connection with those activities. While DWP policy does not permit expenditure on promotional merchandise because it is not considered an appropriate use of public money, the Industrial Training Boards operate under different funding arrangements. Their activities are funded predominantly through employer levies raised from their respective industries rather than through general taxation. As industry training bodies, they undertake significant engagement with employers, learners and training providers, including participation in sector events, exhibitions and skills promotion activities, where branded materials and promotional collateral are used to support the delivery of their statutory functions. |
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) | £14,885. HSE does not have promotional merchandise per- se. The items in column 3 are branded stationery items that are provided on HSE’s externally facing training courses and events, to contain delegate packs, handouts etc. The cost of these items is built into the price paid by their customers/delegates, so is fully recovered via commercial revenue. | 1000 Training delegate ring binders: £3,210 (Jul 25, Dec 25) 2000 Training delegate tote bags: £1,805 (Oct 25, Feb 26, Aug 26) 2500 Training and events pens: £1,525 (Dec 25, Aug 26) |
Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) | £740.40 in the 2026/27 financial year to date. | Two pull-up banners: £356.42 Exhibition materials: £383.98 |
The Pensions Regulator (TPR) | Zero. | Zero |
The Pension Ombudsman (TPO) | Zero | Zero |
Skills England | Zero | |
Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will list each industrial dispute live within his Department, including the nature of the dispute and level of industrial action.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department for Work and Pensions has no live formal trade disputes at present.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much his Department spent on interpreters and related translation services in 2025.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The total contract costs from 1/1/25 – 1/1/26 are £12,109,032.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government what route will remain available for apprentices to gain the necessary qualifications for relevant posts in the absence of the apprenticeship for small commercial vessel crewmembers; and what alternatives are available to young people who wish to pursue a maritime career in general.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The government recognises the importance of maritime apprenticeships in helping employers develop a skilled workforce. Skills England works with employers and sector bodies to develop and maintain a range of maritime apprenticeship standards, ensuring they reflect employer needs.
Skills England is consulting with stakeholders on retiring some occupational standards. This is often due to low levels of new starts or delivery challenges, including limited provider availability. In this context, "retirement" means that the apprenticeship would close to new starts, while existing apprentices would normally be able to complete their training. The consultation is still live and so no final decision has been taken.
Information on the number of apprentices who may be affected in each region of England is not currently available, as no decision has been taken.
Young people wishing to pursue maritime careers can access a range of technical qualifications and employer-led training programmes. For more information please see, Occupational Maps: Skills England.
To further increase apprenticeship opportunities, the Government is introducing a £2,000 apprenticeship hiring payment for non-levy paying employers who recruit 16 to 24-year-olds as new apprentice employees. In addition, apprenticeship training is now fully funded for all eligible under-25s at employers of all sizes, helping more young people access opportunities in sectors such as maritime.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government why they are proposing to retire the apprenticeship for small commercial vessel crewmembers; what is meant by "retirement" in this context; and how many apprentices will be affected in each region of England.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The government recognises the importance of maritime apprenticeships in helping employers develop a skilled workforce. Skills England works with employers and sector bodies to develop and maintain a range of maritime apprenticeship standards, ensuring they reflect employer needs.
Skills England is consulting with stakeholders on retiring some occupational standards. This is often due to low levels of new starts or delivery challenges, including limited provider availability. In this context, "retirement" means that the apprenticeship would close to new starts, while existing apprentices would normally be able to complete their training. The consultation is still live and so no final decision has been taken.
Information on the number of apprentices who may be affected in each region of England is not currently available, as no decision has been taken.
Young people wishing to pursue maritime careers can access a range of technical qualifications and employer-led training programmes. For more information please see, Occupational Maps: Skills England.
To further increase apprenticeship opportunities, the Government is introducing a £2,000 apprenticeship hiring payment for non-levy paying employers who recruit 16 to 24-year-olds as new apprentice employees. In addition, apprenticeship training is now fully funded for all eligible under-25s at employers of all sizes, helping more young people access opportunities in sectors such as maritime.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to encourage the take-up of small commercial vessel crewmember apprenticeships, and other maritime employment programmes.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The government recognises the importance of maritime apprenticeships in helping employers develop a skilled workforce. Skills England works with employers and sector bodies to develop and maintain a range of maritime apprenticeship standards, ensuring they reflect employer needs.
Skills England is consulting with stakeholders on retiring some occupational standards. This is often due to low levels of new starts or delivery challenges, including limited provider availability. In this context, "retirement" means that the apprenticeship would close to new starts, while existing apprentices would normally be able to complete their training. The consultation is still live and so no final decision has been taken.
Information on the number of apprentices who may be affected in each region of England is not currently available, as no decision has been taken.
Young people wishing to pursue maritime careers can access a range of technical qualifications and employer-led training programmes. For more information please see, Occupational Maps: Skills England.
To further increase apprenticeship opportunities, the Government is introducing a £2,000 apprenticeship hiring payment for non-levy paying employers who recruit 16 to 24-year-olds as new apprentice employees. In addition, apprenticeship training is now fully funded for all eligible under-25s at employers of all sizes, helping more young people access opportunities in sectors such as maritime.
Asked by: Baroness Wolf of Dulwich (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many (1) starts, and (2) completions, there have been on the apprenticeship standards: (a) Carpentry and joinery L2, (b) Craft carpentry and joinery L3, (c) Painting and Decorating L2, (d) Craft Painting and Decorating L3, (e) Plastering L2, (f) Craft Plastering L3, (g) Bricklaying L2, and (h) Painting and Decorating L2; Craft Painting and Decorating L3, Plastering L2, Craft Plastering L3, (g) Bricklaying L2, and (h) Craft Bricklaying L3.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
All providers of all government funded apprenticeships are required to submit information on apprenticeship starts and completions which are held on the Longitudinal Individualised Learner Record.
Starts and achievements on the Level 2 Bricklayer, Level 3 Craft Bricklayer, Level 2 Carpentry and Joinery, Level 3 Craft Carpentry and Joinery, Level 2 Painter and Decorator, Level 3 Craft Painter and Decorator and Level 2 Plasterer apprenticeship standards can be found here and attached. 'Subjects - Starts, Achievements, Enrolments by Age, Sex, Ethnicity, LLDD, SSA, Detailed level, Standard-framework' from 'Apprenticeships', Permanent data table - Explore education statistics - GOV.UK.
Apprenticeships are occupationally specific and employers are responsible for determining whether an individual has the skills, knowledge and behaviours needed to start a particular apprenticeship. There is no general requirement for an individual to have completed a Level 2 apprenticeship in order to begin the corresponding Level 3 apprenticeship.
In relation to the Level 3 Craft Painting and Decorating, Level 3 Craft Plastering, and Level 3 Craft Bricklaying standard, completion of the associated Level 2 apprenticeship is not a mandatory prerequisite. An apprentice may start a Level 3 apprenticeship where they can demonstrate the relevant prior knowledge, skills and experience required by the employer and training provider.
Employers are free to set entry requirements for their vacancies, taking account of the content and level of the apprenticeship standard. The government expects training providers and employers to take account of relevant prior learning and occupational competence when determining whether an applicant is suitable for a particular apprenticeship programme.
Where an individual has already acquired some of the knowledge, skills and behaviours set out in the apprenticeship standard, this must be recognised through an assessment of prior learning and the apprenticeship content and duration adjusted accordingly.
Asked by: Baroness Wolf of Dulwich (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether completion of an apprenticeship in Painting and decorating L2 is a prerequisite for starting Craft Painting and Decorating L3; whether completion of an apprenticeship in Plastering L2 is a prerequisite for starting Craft Plastering L3; whether completion of an apprenticeship in Bricklaying L2 is a prerequisite for starting Craft Bricklaying L3; and, if completion of the relevant level 2 is not a prerequisite for starting the associated level 3 apprenticeship, what other prerequisites or arrangements for accrediting prior learning exist.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
All providers of all government funded apprenticeships are required to submit information on apprenticeship starts and completions which are held on the Longitudinal Individualised Learner Record.
Starts and achievements on the Level 2 Bricklayer, Level 3 Craft Bricklayer, Level 2 Carpentry and Joinery, Level 3 Craft Carpentry and Joinery, Level 2 Painter and Decorator, Level 3 Craft Painter and Decorator and Level 2 Plasterer apprenticeship standards can be found here and attached. 'Subjects - Starts, Achievements, Enrolments by Age, Sex, Ethnicity, LLDD, SSA, Detailed level, Standard-framework' from 'Apprenticeships', Permanent data table - Explore education statistics - GOV.UK.
Apprenticeships are occupationally specific and employers are responsible for determining whether an individual has the skills, knowledge and behaviours needed to start a particular apprenticeship. There is no general requirement for an individual to have completed a Level 2 apprenticeship in order to begin the corresponding Level 3 apprenticeship.
In relation to the Level 3 Craft Painting and Decorating, Level 3 Craft Plastering, and Level 3 Craft Bricklaying standard, completion of the associated Level 2 apprenticeship is not a mandatory prerequisite. An apprentice may start a Level 3 apprenticeship where they can demonstrate the relevant prior knowledge, skills and experience required by the employer and training provider.
Employers are free to set entry requirements for their vacancies, taking account of the content and level of the apprenticeship standard. The government expects training providers and employers to take account of relevant prior learning and occupational competence when determining whether an applicant is suitable for a particular apprenticeship programme.
Where an individual has already acquired some of the knowledge, skills and behaviours set out in the apprenticeship standard, this must be recognised through an assessment of prior learning and the apprenticeship content and duration adjusted accordingly.