Oral Answers to Questions

Anne Milton Excerpts

Tuesday 22nd October 2019 Commons Chamber

[Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry) (DUP)]

3. What steps her Department is taking to help businesses realise the potential benefits to their organisation of the apprenticeship levy.

[Anne Milton (Guildford) (Ind)]

6. What guidance her Department has issued to businesses to help them make more effective use of the apprenticeship levy.

[The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Andrea Leadsom)]

I strongly believe that apprenticeships are a superb option for people to earn and learn. In my Department, we have 154 apprentices, 149 of whom are levy funded. I have taken on a new school leaver apprentice in my office every year since becoming an MP, which has been an excellent experience for them and for my team. Since the introduction of the apprenticeship levy, we have made changes to ensure that businesses can spend up to 25% of it in their supply chain, and I am delighted that the number of people starting higher-level apprenticeships has increased by over 40% since the 2016-17 academic year.

--- Later in debate ---

[Andrea Leadsom]

The hon. Gentleman will be aware that the apprenticeship levy is collected from Northern Ireland businesses, with Northern Ireland subsequently receiving a Barnett consequential of spending on apprenticeships in England, which is funded by the levy. Ensuring that apprenticeship policy in Northern Ireland is delivering for Northern Ireland businesses is just one of a number for reasons why it is so essential that devolved government in Northern Ireland is restored.

[Anne Milton]

In Guildford, 97% of businesses are small businesses. What progress have the Government made on ensuring that they can use the 25% transfer from levy employers to build the skilled workforce that we desperately need in this country?

[Andrea Leadsom]

I pay tribute to my right hon. Friend for her superb work as Minister of State for Skills over the past few years. Under her watch, the importance of technical education has been raised substantially. She will be aware that sectors in all parts of the economy are now creating apprenticeship programmes, from cyber-security to offshore wind, and more than 61% of starts are now on high-quality industry design standards.