Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many employers were liable to pay the apprenticeship levy in (1) 2022–23, and (2) 2023–24.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

In 2022-23, 34,200 employers paid the apprenticeship levy, and in 2023-24, 36,000 employers paid the apprenticeship levy.

In 2024-25, 36,900 employers paid the apprenticeship levy; this figure is based on outturn as the tax year has completed. No estimate has been made for the number of employers projected to pay the apprenticeship levy in 2025-26.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assumptions they use when calculating the budget for future apprenticeship training to estimate the number of employers that will pay the apprenticeship levy, and what estimate they have made of the number employers who will pay that levy in (1) 2024–25, and (2) 2025–26.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

In 2022-23, 34,200 employers paid the apprenticeship levy, and in 2023-24, 36,000 employers paid the apprenticeship levy.

In 2024-25, 36,900 employers paid the apprenticeship levy; this figure is based on outturn as the tax year has completed. No estimate has been made for the number of employers projected to pay the apprenticeship levy in 2025-26.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether a sixth form college that has moved to academy status will be covered by the provisions in the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)

The Children’s Wellbeing and School Bill will provide a core guarantee of quality education in every school. It will create a floor but no ceiling, enabling healthy competition and innovation beyond a core framework to bring all schools to the level of the very best.

16 to 19 academies are principally concerned with the education of young people above compulsory school age and below the age of 19. They are defined separately to academy schools under the Academies Act 2010 and operate within a policy, financial and operational framework that reflects the type of education that they provide. In keeping with the existing regulatory approach, 16 to 19 academies, including those that were previously sixth-Form colleges, remain out of scope of most of the measures in the Bill that will apply to schools, including academy schools. Under clause 36 of the Bill, 16 to 19 academies remain outside of the scope of Chapter 1 of Part 4 of the Education and Skills Act 2008, which is the main regulatory framework for independent schools, including academy schools.

Clause 49, which introduces a power to secure the performance of an academy proprietor’s duties, will apply to 16 to 19 academies, as well as academy schools. Robust accountability mechanisms play a critical role in the school system by setting clear requirements and expectations, encouraging behaviours that put children first, help them to achieve and thrive, and keep them safe.

This measure will allow my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education to direct any academy trust to comply with their legal duties and address unreasonable actions in a way that is more proportionate than the current intervention regime provided through academy funding agreements.

Found: Lord Liddle; Lord Londesborough; Lord Petitgas; Lord Razzall; Lord Turnbull; Lord Verjee; Baroness Wolf of Dulwich

Found: BARONESS WOLF OF DULWICH BARONESS GARDEN OF FROGNAL LORD ABERDARE LORD KNIGHT OF WEYMOUTH 181_ After

Found: BARONESS WOLF OF DULWICH BARONESS GARDEN OF FROGNAL LORD ABERDARE LORD KNIGHT OF WEYMOUTH 181_ After

Found: Employment Rights Bill 58 BARONESS WOLF OF DULWICH BARONESS GARDEN OF FROGNAL LORD ABERDARE LORD KNIGHT

Found: BARONESS WOLF OF DULWICH BARONESS GARDEN OF FROGNAL LORD ABERDARE 181★_ After Clause 150, insert the

Found: Clause 46 BARONESS WOLF OF DULWICH 436A_ Clause 46, page 110, line 17, at end insert— “(1A) In section