Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department is taking to promote the development of healthcare assistants in primary care by means of apprenticeships.

Provisional 2014/15 data show that there were 105,800 apprenticeships starts in the healthcare sector.

We are committed to delivering employer-led apprenticeship reforms, and will continue working with employers, developing more high quality apprenticeships that are responsive to the needs of business.

The Healthcare Trailblazer, supported by Skills for Health, NHS Trusts and private organisations, has published two new healthcare apprenticeship standards, and more are in development.