Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the percentage of apprenticeship levy that has not been spent in the current financial year to date; and what assessment they have made, if any, of the likely overall apprenticeship levy underspend in financial year 2021–22.
The details of apprenticeship budget spend for the 2021-22 financial year will be included in the Education and Skills Funding Agency’s Annual Report and Accounts, which is due to be published in the second half of 2022. Employers have until 31 March 2022 to start new apprenticeships in the current financial year.
In the 2021-22 financial year, the apprenticeships programme budget is £2.5 billion for investment in apprenticeships in England, double that spent in the 2010-11 financial year in cash terms. The annual apprenticeship budget is set by HM Treasury and, although closely linked, is distinct from the total levy income collected by HM Revenue and Customs.
The levy is an important part of our reforms to create a high quality, employer-led apprenticeships system, and it supports employers of all sizes to invest in high-quality apprenticeship training.