Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of proposed changes to funding for leadership and management apprenticeships on progression opportunities in the retail sector.

The Government is transforming the apprenticeships levy into a new growth and skills levy, backed by an additional £725 million of investment, which will deliver greater flexibility to employers, more opportunities for young people and support the industrial strategy.

We have been working intensively with business on the next stages of reform and will announce plans for the development of the Growth and Skills Levy soon.