Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on reviewing the operation of the Apprenticeship Levy to incentivise investment in skills training.

My right hon. Friends, the Secretary of State for Education and the Chancellor of the Exchequer meet regularly to discuss how skills can contribute to economic growth.

The government is clear that employers have a key role to play in the skills system, and it is important for supporting the country’s productivity and addressing skills gaps that employers invest in skills training.

The government is taking steps to build a skills system that is employer focused, high-quality, and fit for the future, so that skills training is aligned to the needs of employers. The department is embedding employer-led apprenticeship standards, driving qualification reform to ensure technical qualifications are high-quality and establishing employer-led Local Skills Improvement Plans. These reforms intend to give employers a greater role in the skills system so that they can invest in skills training with confidence.

The department is committed to ensuring that apprenticeships play a key part of the skills landscape, providing employers with the skilled workforce they need for the future.

The Apprenticeship Levy supports employers of all sizes to invest in high-quality apprenticeship training and has supported us to grow investment in apprenticeships to £2.7 billion by 2024/25. The government does not currently have any plans to review the Apprenticeship Levy.

The department continues to take steps to improve the apprenticeships system for employers and apprentices. We have made apprenticeships more accessible for all sectors through the development of flexi-job and accelerated apprenticeships, and we are working with providers to simplify the apprenticeship system through our 'You said, we did' programme. The department has also outlined plans to improve apprenticeships quality, with an ambition for 67% of apprentices completing their apprenticeships by 2024/25.