Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to ensure that young people who receive summer assessment results in September (a) 2017 and (b) 2018 will have improved prospects of securing an apprenticeship as a result of the apprenticeship levy.

The apprenticeship levy is part of a number of reforms to boost the quantity and quality of apprenticeships supporting our commitment of 3 million new apprenticeships in England by 2020. The levy will put apprenticeship funding in the hands of employers and will encourage them to invest in their apprentices and take on more.

Employer-led reforms are making it more attractive for businesses to offer more apprenticeships. We are also setting new expectations for public sector bodies and through public procurement so that overall there will be more opportunities for young people to pursue good quality apprenticeships right up to degree level. Higher and degree apprenticeships are widening access to the professions, providing higher level technical skills employers need and giving young people an equally valid route as going to university.

Our goal, through our current communication campaign launched in May, is for young people to see apprenticeships as high quality and prestigious paths to successful careers across all sectors and at all levels.