Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many apprentices her Department recruited in (a) 2025, (b) 2022, (c) 2023 and (d) 2024.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The number of apprentices has fallen for a number of reasons:

1. The Government has made several reforms to apprenticeships including the closing of the Civil Service Apprenticeship Unit and setting up Skills England, which has a renewed focus on skills gaps across the country.
2. In May 2025 the Government also announced Level 7 apprenticeships will continue to be Government-funded for young people aged 16-21, and under 25 for care leavers and those with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) at the start of their apprenticeship in England.
3. External recruitment campaigns have reduced significantly in 2025 as the department works to reduce staff numbers to meet Spending Review commitments. HM Treasury maintains dedication to apprenticeship as a key route into the department.

HM Treasury remains committed to apprenticeships as one pathway to break down barriers to opportunity. External recruitment campaigns for AO & EO grades are considered for a level 3 apprenticeship where appropriate.

As a result, the department has recruited the following number of apprentices:

2022 - 12

2023 - 4

2024 - 4

2025 – 0

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many apprentices her Department recruited in (a) 2025, (b) 2022, (c) 2023 and (d) 2024.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) recruited the following number of apprentices in the specified years:

*Note that figures for 2025 are as of 17/03/2026 and are not yet final.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many apprentices his Department recruited in (a) 2025, (b) 2022, (c) 2023 and (d) 2024.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

On 1st July 2023 due to a Machinery of Government Change, the Department of International Trade (DIT) became the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), alongside parts of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). We therefore only hold information from DBT from 1st July 2023.

Information included for 2022 only captures former DIT apprenticeship starts. Information for 2023 includes starts from January to June for former DIT. Data provided is sourced from internal-to-DBT management information trackers.

Response relates to apprentices recruited/onboarded onto Apprenticeship Programmes. Years here are taken to mean calendar years, not financial years.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many apprentices his Department recruited in (a) 2025, (b) 2022, (c) 2023 and (d) 2024.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

(a) 9 apprentices were recruited in 2025

(d) 13 apprentices were recruited in 2024

Due to the machinery of Government changes which created the Department in February 2023 DESNZ is unable to provide an answer to questions (b) & (c).

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what mechanisms are in place to monitor the consistency of Prevent duty implementation across higher education providers in England.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The situation in the Middle East is deeply troubling, and the escalating violence highlights the importance of universities’ Prevent duty responsibilities to safeguard students from radicalisation.

To comply with the Prevent duty, universities must have effective policies in place and regularly assess risks; this may include updating their risk assessments to remain alert to any increased vulnerability among students, considering recent events.

The Office for Students (OfS) monitors how higher education providers are complying with the Prevent duty and ensures that appropriate measures are in place to protect students from radicalisation. Current OfS monitoring shows that providers are broadly meeting their responsibilities.

The department continues to work closely with the OfS to review compliance and support providers in maintaining high standards.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of universities at fulfilling their Prevent duty obligations, in the context of levels of support for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The situation in the Middle East is deeply troubling, and the escalating violence highlights the importance of universities’ Prevent duty responsibilities to safeguard students from radicalisation.

To comply with the Prevent duty, universities must have effective policies in place and regularly assess risks; this may include updating their risk assessments to remain alert to any increased vulnerability among students, considering recent events.

The Office for Students (OfS) monitors how higher education providers are complying with the Prevent duty and ensures that appropriate measures are in place to protect students from radicalisation. Current OfS monitoring shows that providers are broadly meeting their responsibilities.

The department continues to work closely with the OfS to review compliance and support providers in maintaining high standards.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has had discussions with (a) University College London and (b) other higher education institutions on levels of student society support for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

As stated by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence on 1 March, Ayatollah Khamenei ran an oppressive and brutal regime, murdering thousands of his own citizens and exporting terror, including to Britain. It is horrifying to see his death mourned publicly in this country.

We condemn all extremist intimidation, harassment and incitement to hatred in our universities. Where public mourning involves this sort of unacceptable behaviour, it should not be tolerated. The department’s Prevent Coordinators engage with universities on concerns relating to students’ union activity and student conduct, to ensure that the correct policies and procedures have been followed. Students’ Unions, where they are registered charities, are regulated by the Charity Commission for compliance with charity law, which assesses and manages them through its regulatory framework.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has issued guidance to higher education institutions on the promotion of narratives in student societies linked to foreign political leadership.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

As stated by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence on 1 March, Ayatollah Khamenei ran an oppressive and brutal regime, murdering thousands of his own citizens and exporting terror, including to Britain. It is horrifying to see his death mourned publicly in this country.

We condemn all extremist intimidation, harassment and incitement to hatred in our universities. Where public mourning involves this sort of unacceptable behaviour, it should not be tolerated. The department’s Prevent Coordinators engage with universities on concerns relating to students’ union activity and student conduct, to ensure that the correct policies and procedures have been followed. Students’ Unions, where they are registered charities, are regulated by the Charity Commission for compliance with charity law, which assesses and manages them through its regulatory framework.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the Office for Students has reviewed the adequacy of compliance procedures at students' unions following public statements praising Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

As stated by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence on 1 March, Ayatollah Khamenei ran an oppressive and brutal regime, murdering thousands of his own citizens and exporting terror, including to Britain. It is horrifying to see his death mourned publicly in this country.

We condemn all extremist intimidation, harassment and incitement to hatred in our universities. Where public mourning involves this sort of unacceptable behaviour, it should not be tolerated. The department’s Prevent Coordinators engage with universities on concerns relating to students’ union activity and student conduct, to ensure that the correct policies and procedures have been followed. Students’ Unions, where they are registered charities, are regulated by the Charity Commission for compliance with charity law, which assesses and manages them through its regulatory framework.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many apprentices the Department recruited in 2015 compared to (a) 2022, (b) 2023 and (c) 2024.

Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

The number of apprentices that enrolled onto apprenticeship programmes within the department in each calendar year is as follows:

• 2022: 324 apprentices
• 2023: 257 apprentices
• 2024: 206 apprentices
• 2025: 271 apprentices

Note: this is a combination of new apprentices joining the department and existing staff embarking on apprenticeship programmes as part of their career development.

The department does not hold data for 2015. For comparison purposes we can confirm that in 2016 the department had 32 apprentices enrol onto apprenticeship programmes. In 2017, the department had 54 apprentices enrol onto apprenticeship programmes.

100th anniversary of the birth of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Found: Patricia Ferguson (Chair); Lillian Jones; Mr Angus MacDonald; Douglas McAllister; Susan Murray; Jack Rankin

Found: Susan Murray (Liberal Democrat, Mid Dunbartonshire) (added 28 Oct 2024) 38 of 48 (79.2%) Jack Rankin