Asked by: Seema Malhotra (Labour (Co-op) - Feltham and Heston)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to her Department's press release, Cash boost to create new flexible approach to apprenticeships, published on 3 August 2021, what proportion of the fund to support flexi-job apprenticeship agencies has been spent.
Answered by Robert Halfon
The department is supporting sectors with short-term project-based work through flexi-Job apprenticeship agencies (FJAAs), which allow apprentices to work with different host employers, and on a range of projects, to gain the skills and knowledge needed to be successful in their chosen field.
In July 2021, the government created a £7 million fund to support employers set up and expand FJAAs. £4.5 million of grant allocations have been awarded, and 97% (£4.3 million) of the grant allocations have been spent.
There are now 44 FJAAs supporting the delivery of apprenticeships in sectors such as creative, construction, agriculture and digital, across every region in England. The current register of FJAAs can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/flexi-job-apprenticeships/flexi-job-apprenticeship-agencies.
The number of apprenticeship starts through FJAAs can be found in the apprenticeships and traineeships statistical release here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/apprenticeships-and-traineeships, with the latest data to be published on 25 January 2024. The department intends to publish data on achievements by FJAAs in due course.
Asked by: Seema Malhotra (Labour (Co-op) - Feltham and Heston)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) starts and (b) completions of flexi-job apprenticeships there have been through the flexi-job apprenticeship agencies register since February 2022.
Answered by Robert Halfon
The department is supporting sectors with short-term project-based work through flexi-Job apprenticeship agencies (FJAAs), which allow apprentices to work with different host employers, and on a range of projects, to gain the skills and knowledge needed to be successful in their chosen field.
In July 2021, the government created a £7 million fund to support employers set up and expand FJAAs. £4.5 million of grant allocations have been awarded, and 97% (£4.3 million) of the grant allocations have been spent.
There are now 44 FJAAs supporting the delivery of apprenticeships in sectors such as creative, construction, agriculture and digital, across every region in England. The current register of FJAAs can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/flexi-job-apprenticeships/flexi-job-apprenticeship-agencies.
The number of apprenticeship starts through FJAAs can be found in the apprenticeships and traineeships statistical release here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/apprenticeships-and-traineeships, with the latest data to be published on 25 January 2024. The department intends to publish data on achievements by FJAAs in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment the Army has made of the risk of adolescent recruits enlisting with a history of depression or anxiety later being discharged for reasons of mental health.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Armed Forces have entry Medical Employment Standards against which potential adolescent recruits are assessed. These permit entry of individuals with a history of depression or anxiety if they meet specific, medically approved criteria. These individuals are not medically downgraded; they are considered medically fit for enlistment.
The Army delivers training and education to instructors on how to prepare recruits for coping with stressful situations and to understand not only the technical and physical needs of recruits, but also their psychological and social needs. There are enhanced welfare support facilities in all Basic Training locations, with both Army and external agencies able to offer advice and support outside the Chain of Command. Risks are proactively sought out and actively managed in accordance with Army policies and civilian best practices.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when she plans to respond to Written Question 1757 on Employment Agencies.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
A response was provided on 21 November 2023.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to Cabinet Office statistics on Permanent and temporary civil servants by sex, age band and department: 2023, published on 31 October 2023, how many permanent civil servants excluding agencies worked for her Department on 31 March (a) 2011, (b) 2016 and (c) 2020.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Headcount of civil servants who worked for the Department on 31 March of 2011, 2016 and 2020 can be found in the ONS Public Sector Employment Publication,
On 2 October 2023, the Chancellor announced an immediate cap on civil servant headcount across Whitehall to stop any further expansion, increase efficiencies and boost productivity.
The Civil Service grew in size to manage the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the illegal war in Ukraine, but it is right that we reduce the size of the Civil Service over time as we drive up productivity and deliver efficiencies.
Asked by: Baroness Harris of Richmond (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to support flexi-job agencies for apprenticeships, particularly for SME employers in rural areas and regions.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department is supporting sectors with short-term project-based work through flexi-Job apprenticeship agencies, which have so far allowed 1,000 apprentices to work with different host employers, and on a range of projects, to gain the skills and knowledge needed to be successful in their chosen field.
As of October 2023, there are 45 flexi-job agencies supporting the delivery of apprenticeships in sectors such as creative, construction, agriculture and digital, across every region in England. The current register of flexi-job agencies can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/flexi-job-apprenticeships/flexi-job-apprenticeship-agencies.
Organisations such as mayoral combined authorities and local authorities will be able to apply to become a flexi-job agency if they can successfully meet the conditions of registration. The department will share details of any plans to re-open the register in due course. The conditions of registration can be found attached.
Asked by: Baroness Harris of Richmond (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to allowing local authorities to become flexi-job apprenticeship agencies.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department is supporting sectors with short-term project-based work through flexi-Job apprenticeship agencies, which have so far allowed 1,000 apprentices to work with different host employers, and on a range of projects, to gain the skills and knowledge needed to be successful in their chosen field.
As of October 2023, there are 45 flexi-job agencies supporting the delivery of apprenticeships in sectors such as creative, construction, agriculture and digital, across every region in England. The current register of flexi-job agencies can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/flexi-job-apprenticeships/flexi-job-apprenticeship-agencies.
Organisations such as mayoral combined authorities and local authorities will be able to apply to become a flexi-job agency if they can successfully meet the conditions of registration. The department will share details of any plans to re-open the register in due course. The conditions of registration can be found attached.
Asked by: Baroness Harris of Richmond (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether there are any restrictions on a Mayoral Combined Authority being a flexi-job apprenticeship agency.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department is supporting sectors with short-term project-based work through flexi-Job apprenticeship agencies, which have so far allowed 1,000 apprentices to work with different host employers, and on a range of projects, to gain the skills and knowledge needed to be successful in their chosen field.
As of October 2023, there are 45 flexi-job agencies supporting the delivery of apprenticeships in sectors such as creative, construction, agriculture and digital, across every region in England. The current register of flexi-job agencies can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/flexi-job-apprenticeships/flexi-job-apprenticeship-agencies.
Organisations such as mayoral combined authorities and local authorities will be able to apply to become a flexi-job agency if they can successfully meet the conditions of registration. The department will share details of any plans to re-open the register in due course. The conditions of registration can be found attached.
Asked by: Carol Monaghan (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North West)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of SCS2 civil servants on full-time contracts in her Department are women.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
As of the 31 of October 2023, the proportion of officials in the Department that are graded as senior civil servant 2 and are women on full time equivalent contracts is 64.9%. This figure was calculated by dividing the number of women at senior civil servant 2 grade on full time contracts by the total number of staff at senior civil servant 2 grade on full time contracts. This figure includes the Department, as well as its executive agencies – Education and Skills Funding Agency, Teaching Regulation Agency, Standard and Testing Agency.
The official public sector employment statistics published in June 2023 by the Office for National Statistics include data on the proportion of staff on temporary contracts who are women. These figures can be accessed at: https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/publicsectorpersonnel/datasets/publicsectoremploymentreferencetable.
In 2022/23, more than half of new entrants to the civil service were women (54.1%). In 2021/22, 51.6% of new entrants and 53.9% of promotions to the senior civil service were women.
Asked by: Carol Monaghan (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North West)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of civil servants on temporary contracts in her Department are women.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
As of the 31 of October 2023, the proportion of officials in the Department that are graded as senior civil servant 2 and are women on full time equivalent contracts is 64.9%. This figure was calculated by dividing the number of women at senior civil servant 2 grade on full time contracts by the total number of staff at senior civil servant 2 grade on full time contracts. This figure includes the Department, as well as its executive agencies – Education and Skills Funding Agency, Teaching Regulation Agency, Standard and Testing Agency.
The official public sector employment statistics published in June 2023 by the Office for National Statistics include data on the proportion of staff on temporary contracts who are women. These figures can be accessed at: https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/publicsectorpersonnel/datasets/publicsectoremploymentreferencetable.
In 2022/23, more than half of new entrants to the civil service were women (54.1%). In 2021/22, 51.6% of new entrants and 53.9% of promotions to the senior civil service were women.