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Written Question
Apprentices: Taxation
Monday 10th November 2025

Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government what was the total amount of unspent funds from the Apprenticeship Levy returned to the Treasury for each of the past five years.

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

The Department for Work and Pensions, and prior to that the Department for Education, has responsibility for apprenticeships in England only. The annual English apprenticeships budget is agreed at key fiscal events and ring-fenced. This budget is distinct from the total levy receipts collected by HM Treasury and the funds in employers’ apprenticeship service accounts.

The English apprenticeship budget covers the spend drawn down by all levy-paying employers, as well as apprenticeships for those who do not pay the levy, the costs of English and maths tuition for apprentices, and additional payments to employers, training providers and apprentices. It also covers the administrative costs of running the apprenticeships programme.

Over the past two financial years the English apprenticeships budget has been almost fully spent. The table below provides details of the English apprenticeships budget. As is usual practice, any underspends in overall departmental budgets by the end of the financial year are returned to HMT as per the Consolidated Budgeting Guidance.

£ (million)

Financial year

2020-21

2021-22

2022-23

2023-24

2024-25

Ring-fenced apprenticeships budget

2,467

2,466

2,554

2,525*

2,769

Underspend against the ring-fenced apprenticeships budget

604

11

96

16*

0

*The 2023-24 annual apprenticeship budget was revised in-year from £2,585 million to £2,525 million, as £60 million was surrendered in-year.

Division Vote (Lords)
5 Nov 2025 - Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Storey (LD) voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 50 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 0 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 159 Noes - 194
Division Vote (Lords)
5 Nov 2025 - Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Storey (LD) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 45 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 0 Liberal Democrat No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 61 Noes - 140
Division Vote (Lords)
5 Nov 2025 - Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Storey (LD) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 45 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 0 Liberal Democrat No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 66 Noes - 151
Division Vote (Lords)
5 Nov 2025 - Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Storey (LD) voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 51 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 0 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 157 Noes - 200
Division Vote (Lords)
3 Nov 2025 - Planning and Infrastructure Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Storey (LD) voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 25 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 0 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 162 Noes - 178
Division Vote (Lords)
3 Nov 2025 - Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Storey (LD) voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 48 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 0 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 182 Noes - 227
Division Vote (Lords)
3 Nov 2025 - Planning and Infrastructure Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Storey (LD) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 16 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 0 Liberal Democrat No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 107 Noes - 136
Division Vote (Lords)
3 Nov 2025 - Planning and Infrastructure Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Storey (LD) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 9 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 0 Liberal Democrat No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 58 Noes - 125
Division Vote (Lords)
29 Oct 2025 - Planning and Infrastructure Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Storey (LD) voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 49 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 0 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 133 Noes - 188