Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Viscount Younger of Leckie on 20 February (HL Deb, col 14), what assessment they have made of how the partnership with five major cities to drive up apprenticeships among under-represented groups will affect the Gypsy, Traveller and Roma communities; and what support will be given to those whose literacy needs improvement to help them to take advantage of apprenticeship opportunities.

We will work with partners on the Five Cities project to identify any under-represented groups that can be supported into apprenticeships, so that more people can benefit from the increased wage and employment prospects that apprenticeships offer. We have not, however, made a direct assessment of how the Five Cities project will affect the Gypsy, Traveller and Roma communities.

Legislation that we introduced allows the minimum English and maths requirements for apprenticeships to be adjusted for entry level 3. This applies to any applicant who currently has, or has previously been issued, an education health and care plan or statement of special needs or learning difficulty assessment and who, as a result of their learning difficulties and/or disability, cannot meet the regular English and maths requirements but could otherwise meet the occupational requirements of the apprenticeship.

Adults who want to improve their literacy skills prior to starting an apprenticeship and do not already hold a level 2 qualification are entitled to full funding for specified qualifications in English and maths up to level 2. 16-19 year olds who do not already hold a level 2 in English and maths are required to continue to study these subjects as part of their study programme.