Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether there were any meetings between senior officials in his Department and (a) the Early Years Alliance, (b) the National Day Nurseries Association, (c) Busy Bees, (d) Bright Horizons, (e) Koru Kids and (f) other individual private providers of childcare services subsequent to the release of transparency information for HM Treasury ministerial meetings between 1 January and 31 March 2023.
Answered by Laura Trott - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Treasury officials have regular meetings with external organisations, including in the childcare sector as part of the process for policy formulation.
Details of Ministerial and Permanent Secretary meetings are published on GOV.UK.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much his Department (a) budgeted for and (b) spent on tax-free childcare in the financial year 2022-23.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
This statistic, and other statistics on Tax-Free Childcare spending, can be found online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/tax-free-childcare-quarterly-statistics
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Autumn Statement of 17 November, Official Report, col 849, if he will publish the sources of the estimate that putting VAT on independent school fees would result in up to 90,000 children from the independent sector switching to state schools.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
Many education and training services are exempt from VAT because there is a broad public interest in the provision of education. Vocational training provided by bodies like further education colleges, training schemes ultimately funded by the Government, examination services, and closely related supplies like school meals and field trips are all exempt from VAT under these rules, and we have no plans to make changes.
Baines Cutler, an independent analyst, conducted detailed research into what would happen if VAT applied to private school fees. Their calculations suggest that 90,800 pupils would leave the independent sector over the next five years and that this drop-off would be ‘virtually certain’.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many applications for Specified Adult Childcare credits have been made where the primary carer is in receipt of Child Benefit in each year since 2011.
Answered by Richard Fuller
The table below shows the total number of applications received for Specified Adult Childcare credits in each year since the scheme began in 2011, and numbers that are approved and rejected.
An application for Specified Adult Childcare credits can only be successful where there is a claim for Child Benefit and all other eligibility criteria are met.
These figures have been taken from management information available at this time and are not official statistics. This means that they have not been subjected to full Quality Assurance procedures.
Year | Applications Approved | Applications Rejected | Total Applications Received |
Oct 21 – Aug 22 | 16,214 | 3,854 | 20,068 |
Oct 20 – Sept 21 | 15,927 | 3,148 | 19,075 |
Oct 19 – Sept 20 | 15,007 | 3,088 | 18,095 |
Oct 18 – Sept 19 | 15,412 | 3,389 | 18,801 |
Oct 17 – Sept 18 | 10,084 | 3,140 | 13,224 |
Oct 16 – Sept 17 | 9,486 | 4,061 | 13,547 |
Oct 15 – Sept 16 | 1,298 | 206 | 1,504 |
Oct 14 – Sept 15 | 1,168 | 152 | 1,320 |
Oct 13 – Sept 14 | 1,725 | 832 | 2,557 |
Oct 12 – Sept 13 | 498 | 198 | 696 |
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people made an application to receive Specified Adult Childcare credits in each year since 2011.
Answered by Richard Fuller
The table below shows the total number of applications received for Specified Adult Childcare credits in each year since the scheme began in 2011, and numbers that are approved and rejected.
An application for Specified Adult Childcare credits can only be successful where there is a claim for Child Benefit and all other eligibility criteria are met.
These figures have been taken from management information available at this time and are not official statistics. This means that they have not been subjected to full Quality Assurance procedures.
Year | Applications Approved | Applications Rejected | Total Applications Received |
Oct 21 – Aug 22 | 16,214 | 3,854 | 20,068 |
Oct 20 – Sept 21 | 15,927 | 3,148 | 19,075 |
Oct 19 – Sept 20 | 15,007 | 3,088 | 18,095 |
Oct 18 – Sept 19 | 15,412 | 3,389 | 18,801 |
Oct 17 – Sept 18 | 10,084 | 3,140 | 13,224 |
Oct 16 – Sept 17 | 9,486 | 4,061 | 13,547 |
Oct 15 – Sept 16 | 1,298 | 206 | 1,504 |
Oct 14 – Sept 15 | 1,168 | 152 | 1,320 |
Oct 13 – Sept 14 | 1,725 | 832 | 2,557 |
Oct 12 – Sept 13 | 498 | 198 | 696 |
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the oral evidence of 15 June 2022 from the Minister for Higher and Further Education to the Education Select Committee and the Answer of 6 April 2022 to Question 149240 on Apprentices: Taxation, what assessment he has made of the impact of the Levy on (a) levels of funding for new apprenticeships, (b) support for new provision for the acquisition of skills and (c) the rebadging of existing training since it was introduced; and whether he has plans to use such assessments to inform the review of the Apprenticeships Levy first announced as part of the Spring Statement on 23 March 2022.
Answered by Simon Clarke
As part of the Spring Statement, the Chancellor committed to examining the tax system, including the operation of the Apprenticeship Levy, to determine whether it is doing enough to incentivise businesses to invest in the right kinds of training needed for the economy to strengthen and grow.
The Chancellor considers that a new culture of enterprise is essential to drive growth through higher productivity. The government’s ambition is to create the conditions for the private sector to invest more, train more and innovate more to encourage greater levels of private sector investment in employee training.
The Apprenticeship Levy is a key part of this ambition. Since its introduction in 2017, it has helped employers of all sizes and sectors invest in and train apprentices, providing their businesses with the skills they need to meet their customers’ needs and grow. Employers who pay the Apprenticeship Levy can invest their funds in high-quality apprenticeship training, while the government covers 95 percent of the training costs for employers who do not pay the Levy using unspent Levy funds.
The government has already transformed apprenticeships – which are jobs with training for anyone of any age, at any level or stage of their career – to align with employer needs. Since the announcement of the Apprenticeship Levy in May 2015, over 2.7 million apprenticeships have begun. The quality requirements placed on apprenticeships ensure that this training is beneficial to both learners and employers, providing the key skills both parties need to succeed and preventing the rebadging of existing training.
The government continues to regularly engage with employers, training providers and other interested stakeholders of all sizes and sectors. The government recognises that employers have frustrations with the way that Apprenticeship Levy funds can be spend within the apprenticeships system. We welcome the comments of all interested parties on the workings of the apprenticeship system to ensure it continues to meet their needs.
To address these frustrations, the Government has delivered various improvements to the apprenticeship system. These include the launch of Flexi-Job Apprenticeship Agencies – with 10 employers receiving a share of £5 million of funding to set up - and the introduction of the Pledge and Match Levy transfer system. Since launching in September 2021, 110 employers including Amazon UK, DPD and HomeServe have pledged to transfer over £7 million to support apprenticeships in businesses of all sizes and sectors.
While there will not be a formal review of the Apprenticeship Levy or system, the government is committed to protecting the quality of apprenticeship training and making further improvements to the system to respond to the legitimate concerns raised by employers. The Chancellor will update the House further in the Autumn.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the evidence from the Minister for Higher and Further Education to the Education Select Committee on 15 June 2022 and to the Answer of 6 April 2022 to Question 149235 on Apprentices: Taxation, when he plans to (a) undertake and (b) publish the review the Apprenticeships Levy; and when he plans for stakeholders to engage with the review.
Answered by Simon Clarke
As part of the Spring Statement, the Chancellor committed to examining the tax system, including the operation of the Apprenticeship Levy, to determine whether it is doing enough to incentivise businesses to invest in the right kinds of training needed for the economy to strengthen and grow.
The Chancellor considers that a new culture of enterprise is essential to drive growth through higher productivity. The government’s ambition is to create the conditions for the private sector to invest more, train more and innovate more to encourage greater levels of private sector investment in employee training.
The Apprenticeship Levy is a key part of this ambition. Since its introduction in 2017, it has helped employers of all sizes and sectors invest in and train apprentices, providing their businesses with the skills they need to meet their customers’ needs and grow. Employers who pay the Apprenticeship Levy can invest their funds in high-quality apprenticeship training, while the government covers 95 percent of the training costs for employers who do not pay the Levy using unspent Levy funds.
The government has already transformed apprenticeships – which are jobs with training for anyone of any age, at any level or stage of their career – to align with employer needs. Since the announcement of the Apprenticeship Levy in May 2015, over 2.7 million apprenticeships have begun. The quality requirements placed on apprenticeships ensure that this training is beneficial to both learners and employers, providing the key skills both parties need to succeed and preventing the rebadging of existing training.
The government continues to regularly engage with employers, training providers and other interested stakeholders of all sizes and sectors. The government recognises that employers have frustrations with the way that Apprenticeship Levy funds can be spend within the apprenticeships system. We welcome the comments of all interested parties on the workings of the apprenticeship system to ensure it continues to meet their needs.
To address these frustrations, the Government has delivered various improvements to the apprenticeship system. These include the launch of Flexi-Job Apprenticeship Agencies – with 10 employers receiving a share of £5 million of funding to set up - and the introduction of the Pledge and Match Levy transfer system. Since launching in September 2021, 110 employers including Amazon UK, DPD and HomeServe have pledged to transfer over £7 million to support apprenticeships in businesses of all sizes and sectors.
While there will not be a formal review of the Apprenticeship Levy or system, the government is committed to protecting the quality of apprenticeship training and making further improvements to the system to respond to the legitimate concerns raised by employers. The Chancellor will update the House further in the Autumn.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the oral evidence of 15 June 2022 from the Minister for Higher and Further Education to the Education Select Committee and the Answer of 6 April 2022 to Question 149234 on Apprentices: Taxation, what the process will be for the Government's review of the working of the Apprenticeships Levy; and whether there will be an opportunity for (a) employers, (b) trades unions, (c) colleges and other training providers, (d) hon. Members, (e) councils and (f) other stakeholders to submit evidence to that review.
Answered by Simon Clarke
As part of the Spring Statement, the Chancellor committed to examining the tax system, including the operation of the Apprenticeship Levy, to determine whether it is doing enough to incentivise businesses to invest in the right kinds of training needed for the economy to strengthen and grow.
The Chancellor considers that a new culture of enterprise is essential to drive growth through higher productivity. The government’s ambition is to create the conditions for the private sector to invest more, train more and innovate more to encourage greater levels of private sector investment in employee training.
The Apprenticeship Levy is a key part of this ambition. Since its introduction in 2017, it has helped employers of all sizes and sectors invest in and train apprentices, providing their businesses with the skills they need to meet their customers’ needs and grow. Employers who pay the Apprenticeship Levy can invest their funds in high-quality apprenticeship training, while the government covers 95 percent of the training costs for employers who do not pay the Levy using unspent Levy funds.
The government has already transformed apprenticeships – which are jobs with training for anyone of any age, at any level or stage of their career – to align with employer needs. Since the announcement of the Apprenticeship Levy in May 2015, over 2.7 million apprenticeships have begun. The quality requirements placed on apprenticeships ensure that this training is beneficial to both learners and employers, providing the key skills both parties need to succeed and preventing the rebadging of existing training.
The government continues to regularly engage with employers, training providers and other interested stakeholders of all sizes and sectors. The government recognises that employers have frustrations with the way that Apprenticeship Levy funds can be spend within the apprenticeships system. We welcome the comments of all interested parties on the workings of the apprenticeship system to ensure it continues to meet their needs.
To address these frustrations, the Government has delivered various improvements to the apprenticeship system. These include the launch of Flexi-Job Apprenticeship Agencies – with 10 employers receiving a share of £5 million of funding to set up - and the introduction of the Pledge and Match Levy transfer system. Since launching in September 2021, 110 employers including Amazon UK, DPD and HomeServe have pledged to transfer over £7 million to support apprenticeships in businesses of all sizes and sectors.
While there will not be a formal review of the Apprenticeship Levy or system, the government is committed to protecting the quality of apprenticeship training and making further improvements to the system to respond to the legitimate concerns raised by employers. The Chancellor will update the House further in the Autumn.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he last visited a (a) primary school, (b) secondary school, (c) further education college and (d) university since 14 February 2020; and if he will publish details of those visits.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Chancellor of the Exchequer has last visited the following educational institutions:
Primary and Secondary School: King Solomon Academy, London – 29 April 2021
Further Education College: Darlington College, Darlington – 11 April 2022
University: Aston University, Birmingham – 2 August 2021
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on how many occasions he has met the Secretary of State for Education since 15 September 2021; and what matters were discussed at each of those meetings.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of ministerial discussions are not normally disclosed.