Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the NHS Long Term Plan and NHS Planning Guidance commitments for 2019-20, what progress his Department has made against the commitment to invest over half of the £200 million apprenticeship levy back into the NHS in 2019-20; and if he will make a statement.

We are working closely with employers and Health Education England and other key delivery partners to make sure that the National Health Service is fully supported to recruit apprentices, thus utilising their levy contributions, in a range of occupations and in doing so ensure the NHS has a workforce that is reflective of the population it serves.

As at March 2019, there are 40 apprenticeship standards ready for delivery in a range of health and care roles, with a further 18 in development.

Individual NHS employers hold their own data on their levy spend and will know full 2019/20 spend at the end of the financial year.