Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what the apprenticeship budget was for the Department for Education in the financial year 2023–24; what proportion was spent in total; and what proportion was spent on (1) training for apprenticeships with levy-paying employers, (2) training for apprenticeships with non-levy-paying employers, and (3) other activities.

In the 2023/24 financial year, 99% of the revised end-of year English apprenticeships budget of £2,525 million was spent, an underspend of £16 million (£60 million was surrendered in year).

The following table provides a breakdown of total spend for the 2023/24 financial year, including the proportion of total spend on training for apprenticeships with levy paying employers and training for apprenticeships with non-levy paying employers in England. In addition, the table reflects the spend on apprenticeships that started prior to the introduction of the apprenticeships levy and new funding system, as well as non-apprenticeships participation spend, such as the cost of running digital services and marketing and communications campaigns.

Where the department’s apprenticeships budget is underspent by the end of the financial year, funds are returned to HM Treasury in line with standard practice set out in the published consolidated budgeting guidance.