Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she and Ministers in her Department have had with Ministers in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on the proposed reform of apprenticeships; what effect those discussions will have on her Department's projects and the work of their supply chain; and whether officials in her Department sit on programme boards managing the reform.

Defra and BIS have regular discussions on a range of skills development issues, including reform of apprenticeships, to ensure that different departmental programmes are complementary and can effectively support growth. The Apprenticeship Trailblazers have had a strong focus on the food industry, with schemes supporting food engineering and butchery skills. I fully support the skills and apprenticeship agenda and regularly discuss this with stakeholders in the food and farming sectors.