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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 6 January 2025 to Question 21057 on Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Unpaid Work, if he will list each internship scheme operated by (a) his Department and (b) the Environment Agency since July 2024; how many interns were recruited in each scheme; how the interns were paid; and what restrictions were placed on who could apply.

Defra has participated in the following annual programmes for a minimum of three years:

Cabinet Office led internship programmes:

Summer Internship Programme (6-8 weeks) : 2024 - 41 interns

Autism Exchange Internship Programme (4 weeks) : 2024 - 6 interns

Salary:

Interns are paid through the department payroll for the duration of their internship.

Salary is based on the National Living Wage each year.

In 2024 salary was £430.00 per week for both schemes. In 2025 salary will rise to £452 per week and the Autism Programme will extend to 8 weeks

Defra Analytical Internships

Summer Internships (3 months) : 2024 - 11 interns

Sandwich Internships (12 months) : 2024 - 7 interns

Salary:

Interns are paid through the department payroll for the duration of their internship, with the majority employed at Administrative Officer (AO) level. Salary is £28,680 for London (based on the Minimum for the grade) or £25,070 for National (based on the Minimum for the grade)

Social Research Sandwich Placements are engaged at Executive Officer (EO) level. Salary for London - £32,220 (based on Minimum for grade) or £28,710 National (based on Minimum for the grade).

Environment Agency Programmes

Defra has participated in the following annual programmes for a minimum of 3 years:

Industry Placement (12 months) : 14 Interns

Salary:

Interns are paid through the department payroll for the duration of their internship.

In 2024, Grade 2 salary minimum - £24,096 per annum, pro rata.

Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Quest Scholarship programme (8 week): 5 interns

Salary:

Interns are paid through the department payroll for the duration of their internship.

In 2024 Grade 2 salary £24,096 per annum pro rata for the 8 week summer placement. In addition, the Environment Agency offers £1,000 per annum to each candidate in scholarship fee for each year at University. The ICE pay £500, a total of £1,500 per year as a scholarship fee. The EA also pays the candidate a further £2,000 when they join the Graduate Training Scheme after University

Entry level apprenticeships - various including Environmental Practitioner Degree Apprenticeship (12 – 24 months) : 6 apprentices

Salary:

Apprentices are paid through the department payroll for the duration of their apprenticeship

Salary is variable depending on apprenticeship type and can go up to Grade 4 salary minimum £33,000 per annum pro rata

Doctoral Training Partnerships (up to 3 months) : 4 interns

Salary:

No salary –work placements funded by the applicants’ PhD programme/university

Summer Development Internship Programme (12 weeks) : 24 interns

Salary:

Interns are paid through the department payroll for the duration of their internship.

2024 Grade 2 salary minimum £24,096 per annum pro rata

This scheme aims to widen development opportunities and access to careers for those starting out on their careers, in this case specifically from underrepresented ethnic groups. The latest data (Q2 2024-2025) from the EA shows that 6.4% of Agency staff are from a Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic background, against a representation goal of 7.6% this year and a 2021 Census representation of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic respondents in England and Wales of 18.3%.