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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Rural Payments Agency has offered apprenticeships in each year since 2010.

The Civil Service is committed to using apprenticeships to break down barriers to opportunity, support skills development and deliver more effective public services.

Defra Group, including the Rural Payments Agency, has developed a diverse apprenticeship programme, offering a range of apprenticeship standards from Level 3 (equivalent to A-Levels) to Level 7 (equivalent to Masters Level). The apprenticeship offer is used for both external recruitment and development of existing staff.