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Written Question
Apprentices
Tuesday 4th November 2025

Asked by: Lord Allen of Kensington (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to improve the offer and uptake of apprenticeships.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

This government is transforming the apprenticeships offer into a new growth and skills offer, which will offer greater flexibility to employers and learners and support the industrial strategy.

In August we introduced new foundation apprenticeships for young people in targeted sectors, as well as shorter duration apprenticeships. These flexibilities will help more people learn new high-quality skills at work and fuel innovation in businesses across the country.

To support employers to offer apprenticeships, the government provides £1,000 payments to employers when they take on apprentices aged under 19, or 19 to 24-year-old apprentices who have an education, health and care plan or have been, or are, in care. Government also pays employers up to £2,000 for eligible foundation apprenticeships to contribute to the extra costs of supporting someone at the beginning of their career. Employers also benefit from not being required to pay anything towards employees’ National Insurance for all apprentices aged up to age 25, when the employee’s wage is below £50,270 a year.

Division Vote (Lords)
28 Oct 2025 - Employment Rights Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Allen of Kensington (Lab) voted No - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 144 Labour No votes vs 0 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 302 Noes - 159
Division Vote (Lords)
21 Oct 2025 - Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Allen of Kensington (Lab) voted No - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 145 Labour No votes vs 1 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 262 Noes - 157
Division Vote (Lords)
21 Oct 2025 - Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Allen of Kensington (Lab) voted No - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 142 Labour No votes vs 1 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 253 Noes - 153
Division Vote (Lords)
21 Oct 2025 - Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Allen of Kensington (Lab) voted No - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 138 Labour No votes vs 1 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 212 Noes - 144
Division Vote (Lords)
15 Oct 2025 - Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Allen of Kensington (Lab) voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 136 Labour No votes vs 0 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 139 Noes - 186
Division Vote (Lords)
15 Oct 2025 - Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Allen of Kensington (Lab) voted No - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 128 Labour No votes vs 2 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 200 Noes - 194
Division Vote (Lords)
14 Oct 2025 - Renters’ Rights Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Allen of Kensington (Lab) voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 151 Labour No votes vs 2 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 204 Noes - 215
Division Vote (Lords)
14 Oct 2025 - Renters’ Rights Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Allen of Kensington (Lab) voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 150 Labour No votes vs 0 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 192 Noes - 239
Division Vote (Lords)
14 Oct 2025 - Business of the House - View Vote Context
Lord Allen of Kensington (Lab) voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 152 Labour No votes vs 1 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 211 Noes - 261