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Written Question
Respiratory Diseases: Intensive Care
Thursday 4th January 2024

Asked by: Baroness Wolf of Dulwich (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Markham on 15 December 2023 (HL453), whether their planning scenarios specifically include (1) a respiratory pandemic that creates greater demand for critical care than the COVID-19 pandemic, and (2) a respiratory pandemic that affects a different demographic, in particular one that disproportionately affects children and babies.

Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

We cannot perfectly predict the characteristics of a future pandemic or know precisely which groups will be most affected by it. We are therefore strengthening our pandemic preparedness by considering the flexible and scalable response capabilities that can be adapted to any threat that the health and social care system may need to respond to.

The National Risk Register 2023 outlines the most serious threats facing the United Kingdom with an updated assessment of likelihood and potential impact. Risk 54 describes the risk from a pandemic and provides a reasonable worst-case scenario (RWCS) for an unmitigated respiratory pandemic, as well variations based on different pathogens with different routes of transmission. A copy of the register is attached.

The RWCS assumes that 50% of the UK’s population fall ill during the whole course of the pandemic, with approximately 1.34 million people estimated to require hospital treatment, possibly resulting in up to 840,000 deaths.

We continue to review our pandemic planning in response to information and lessons learned from COVID-19 and other disease outbreaks.


Written Question
Respiratory Diseases: Intensive Care
Friday 15th December 2023

Asked by: Baroness Wolf of Dulwich (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Markham on 16 October (HL10485), over what period they plan to maintain the strategic reserve of intensive care unit equipment originally established in response to the COVID-19 pandemic; and whether, in considering the future of that strategic reserve, their planning scenarios include (1) a respiratory pandemic that creates greater demand for critical care than the COVID-19 pandemic, and (2) a respiratory pandemic that affects a different demographic, specifically one that disproportionately affects children and babies.

Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The COVID Strategic Intensive Care Unit Reserve will hold equipment on hand for emergency use in the National Health Service until March 2024. The Government continues to prepare for a range of pandemic and emerging infectious disease scenarios, in line with our revised assessment of the pandemic risk. This includes preparing for all five routes of disease transmission.


Written Question
Apprentices
Thursday 14th December 2023

Asked by: Baroness Wolf of Dulwich (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many apprentices aged 25 and over who started an apprenticeship in 2021–22 and 2022–23 were enrolled for (1) a level 3 engineering apprenticeship, (2) a digital support technician level 3 apprenticeship, (3) a level 4 engineering apprenticeship, and (4) a level 4 software engineer or developer apprenticeship; what proportion each of these apprenticeships represents of the total number of apprenticeship starts for those aged 25 and over, in each of those years; and what proportion each represents of total starts on those specific apprenticeship standards.

Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The tables below contain the apprenticeship starts figures for the 2021/22 and 2022/23 academic years:

.

Level

Sector Subject Area (SSA) tier 2

Apprenticeship starts age 25+

Proportion of all 25+ apprenticeship starts

Proportion of all age starts on specific SSA at level

2021/22

2022/23

2021/22

2022/23

2021/22

2022/23

3

Engineering

3,110

2,780

1.9%

1.7%

16.6%

14.6%

4

Engineering

760

870

0.5%

0.5%

67.9%

70.9%

Level

Standard name

Apprenticeship starts age 25+

Proportion of all 25+ apprenticeship starts

Proportion of all age starts on specific standard at level

2021/22

2022/23

2021/22

2022/23

2021/22

2022/23

3

Digital Support Technician

180

240

0.1%

0.2%

38.9%

52.9%

4

Software Developer

510

440

0.3%

0.3%

49.3%

45.9%

Notes:

(1) Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

(2) Age is based on age at the start of the programme.

(3) Data source is the Individualised Learner Record.

Further information on apprenticeship starts can be found in the apprenticeships and traineeships statistics publication, which is available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/apprenticeships-and-traineeships.


Written Question
Apprentices
Thursday 14th December 2023

Asked by: Baroness Wolf of Dulwich (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what proportion of apprentices starting their apprenticeships in 2021–22 and 2022–23 were apprentices aged (1) 25–34, (2) 35–44, and (3) 45 and over.

Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The proportion of apprenticeship starts split by the age groups specified are shown in the table below:

Academic years

2021/22

2022/23

Apprenticeship starts

Percentage starts

Apprenticeship starts

Percentage starts

25-34

85,640

24.5%

80,320

23.8%

35-44

49,200

14.1%

49,770

14.8%

45+

30,510

8.7%

30,530

9.1%

Total - all ages

349,190

100%

337,140

100%

Notes:

(1) Data source is the Individualised Learner Record.

(2) Volumes are rounded to the nearest 10. Proportions have been calculated using rounded figures.

(3) Starts are the count of apprenticeships started at any point during the stated academic period. Learners starting more than one Apprenticeship will appear more than once.

(4) Age for starts is based on age at the start of the programme.

Further information on apprenticeship starts can be found in the apprenticeships and traineeships statistics publication, which is available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/apprenticeships-and-traineeships.


Written Question
Apprentices
Tuesday 12th December 2023

Asked by: Baroness Wolf of Dulwich (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many apprenticeship starts at level 7 there were in in (1) 2021–22, and (2) 2022–23 which fell within the legal, finance and accounting route; how many of these were employed in levy-paying organisations; and how many there were per region

Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

Apprenticeship starts at Level 6 and 7 in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 academic years are shown in the following tables. All apprenticeships at Level 6 and Level 7 are classed as degree-level apprenticeships.

Apprenticeship level

Age group

2021/22

2022/23

Level 6

Under 19

2,190

3,220

19-24

8,500

8,600

25+

12,860

13,220

All ages

23,550

25,030

Apprenticeship level

Age group

2021/22

2022/23

Level 7

Under 19

360

450

19-24

7,630

7,770

25+

11,700

13,540

All ages

19,680

21,760


Level 7 Apprenticeship starts in the legal, finance and accounting route in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 academic years are shown in the tables below, along with breakdowns by region, and where starts were supported by Apprenticeship service account levy funds.

Level 7 Apprenticeship starts in the legal, finance and accounting route:

2021/22

2022/23

10,450

10,650


Of which supported by Apprenticeship service account levy funds:

2021/22

2022/23

8,420

8,670


Of which by region:

Region

2021/22

2022/23

East Midlands

680

670

East of England

1,110

1,060

London

2,360

2,460

North East

300

310

North West

1,450

1,350

South East

1,660

1,780

South West

880

930

West Midlands

1,010

1,050

Yorkshire and The Humber

800

850

Outside of England and unknown

200

200

Apprenticeship starts on the Level 7 Senior Leadership standard in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 academic years are shown in the tables below, along with breakdowns by region, and where starts were supported by Apprenticeship service account levy funds.


Level 7 Senior leader apprenticeship starts:

2021/22

2022/23

4,880

6,110


Of which supported by Apprenticeship service account levy funds:

2021/22

2022/23

4,210

5,270


Of which by region:

Region

2021/22

2022/23

East Midlands

390

510

East of England

520

640

London

810

1,100

North East

280

310

North West

600

750

South East

840

1,040

South West

450

470

West Midlands

580

650

Yorkshire and The Humber

350

560

Outside of England and unknown

70

80


There were 5,540 achievements in the Business and Administration Route in the 2022/23 academic year. Of these, 4,020 were on the Senior Leader (ST0480) apprenticeship standard.

Further information on apprenticeship starts can be found in the apprenticeships and traineeships statistics publication, which can be accessed at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/apprenticeships-and-traineeships.

Notes for tables:
(1) Volumes are rounded to the nearest 10.

(2) Data source is the individualised Learner Record.

(3) Geography is based upon the home postcode of the learner. Where the postcode is outside of England or not known it is included in the 'Outside of England and unknown' category.

(4) Geographies are taken from the National Statistics Postcode Lookup.

(5) Please see the 'Further education and skills statistics: methodology' document for more information about how 'supported by Apprenticeship service account levy funds' is derived.

(6) Route information is based on the latest information held on the IfATE 'Search the apprenticeships' page at the point of publication.


Written Question
Apprentices
Tuesday 12th December 2023

Asked by: Baroness Wolf of Dulwich (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many apprenticeship completions were recorded on the Senior Leadership route in 2022–23.

Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

Apprenticeship starts at Level 6 and 7 in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 academic years are shown in the following tables. All apprenticeships at Level 6 and Level 7 are classed as degree-level apprenticeships.

Apprenticeship level

Age group

2021/22

2022/23

Level 6

Under 19

2,190

3,220

19-24

8,500

8,600

25+

12,860

13,220

All ages

23,550

25,030

Apprenticeship level

Age group

2021/22

2022/23

Level 7

Under 19

360

450

19-24

7,630

7,770

25+

11,700

13,540

All ages

19,680

21,760


Level 7 Apprenticeship starts in the legal, finance and accounting route in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 academic years are shown in the tables below, along with breakdowns by region, and where starts were supported by Apprenticeship service account levy funds.

Level 7 Apprenticeship starts in the legal, finance and accounting route:

2021/22

2022/23

10,450

10,650


Of which supported by Apprenticeship service account levy funds:

2021/22

2022/23

8,420

8,670


Of which by region:

Region

2021/22

2022/23

East Midlands

680

670

East of England

1,110

1,060

London

2,360

2,460

North East

300

310

North West

1,450

1,350

South East

1,660

1,780

South West

880

930

West Midlands

1,010

1,050

Yorkshire and The Humber

800

850

Outside of England and unknown

200

200

Apprenticeship starts on the Level 7 Senior Leadership standard in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 academic years are shown in the tables below, along with breakdowns by region, and where starts were supported by Apprenticeship service account levy funds.


Level 7 Senior leader apprenticeship starts:

2021/22

2022/23

4,880

6,110


Of which supported by Apprenticeship service account levy funds:

2021/22

2022/23

4,210

5,270


Of which by region:

Region

2021/22

2022/23

East Midlands

390

510

East of England

520

640

London

810

1,100

North East

280

310

North West

600

750

South East

840

1,040

South West

450

470

West Midlands

580

650

Yorkshire and The Humber

350

560

Outside of England and unknown

70

80


There were 5,540 achievements in the Business and Administration Route in the 2022/23 academic year. Of these, 4,020 were on the Senior Leader (ST0480) apprenticeship standard.

Further information on apprenticeship starts can be found in the apprenticeships and traineeships statistics publication, which can be accessed at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/apprenticeships-and-traineeships.

Notes for tables:
(1) Volumes are rounded to the nearest 10.

(2) Data source is the individualised Learner Record.

(3) Geography is based upon the home postcode of the learner. Where the postcode is outside of England or not known it is included in the 'Outside of England and unknown' category.

(4) Geographies are taken from the National Statistics Postcode Lookup.

(5) Please see the 'Further education and skills statistics: methodology' document for more information about how 'supported by Apprenticeship service account levy funds' is derived.

(6) Route information is based on the latest information held on the IfATE 'Search the apprenticeships' page at the point of publication.


Written Question
Apprentices
Tuesday 12th December 2023

Asked by: Baroness Wolf of Dulwich (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many apprenticeship starts at level 6 there were in (1) 2021–22, and (2) 2022–23, broken down by (a) 16 to 18 year-olds, (b) 19 to 24 year-olds, and (c) those aged 25 and over; and how many of these were degree apprenticeships.

Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

Apprenticeship starts at Level 6 and 7 in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 academic years are shown in the following tables. All apprenticeships at Level 6 and Level 7 are classed as degree-level apprenticeships.

Apprenticeship level

Age group

2021/22

2022/23

Level 6

Under 19

2,190

3,220

19-24

8,500

8,600

25+

12,860

13,220

All ages

23,550

25,030

Apprenticeship level

Age group

2021/22

2022/23

Level 7

Under 19

360

450

19-24

7,630

7,770

25+

11,700

13,540

All ages

19,680

21,760


Level 7 Apprenticeship starts in the legal, finance and accounting route in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 academic years are shown in the tables below, along with breakdowns by region, and where starts were supported by Apprenticeship service account levy funds.

Level 7 Apprenticeship starts in the legal, finance and accounting route:

2021/22

2022/23

10,450

10,650


Of which supported by Apprenticeship service account levy funds:

2021/22

2022/23

8,420

8,670


Of which by region:

Region

2021/22

2022/23

East Midlands

680

670

East of England

1,110

1,060

London

2,360

2,460

North East

300

310

North West

1,450

1,350

South East

1,660

1,780

South West

880

930

West Midlands

1,010

1,050

Yorkshire and The Humber

800

850

Outside of England and unknown

200

200

Apprenticeship starts on the Level 7 Senior Leadership standard in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 academic years are shown in the tables below, along with breakdowns by region, and where starts were supported by Apprenticeship service account levy funds.


Level 7 Senior leader apprenticeship starts:

2021/22

2022/23

4,880

6,110


Of which supported by Apprenticeship service account levy funds:

2021/22

2022/23

4,210

5,270


Of which by region:

Region

2021/22

2022/23

East Midlands

390

510

East of England

520

640

London

810

1,100

North East

280

310

North West

600

750

South East

840

1,040

South West

450

470

West Midlands

580

650

Yorkshire and The Humber

350

560

Outside of England and unknown

70

80


There were 5,540 achievements in the Business and Administration Route in the 2022/23 academic year. Of these, 4,020 were on the Senior Leader (ST0480) apprenticeship standard.

Further information on apprenticeship starts can be found in the apprenticeships and traineeships statistics publication, which can be accessed at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/apprenticeships-and-traineeships.

Notes for tables:
(1) Volumes are rounded to the nearest 10.

(2) Data source is the individualised Learner Record.

(3) Geography is based upon the home postcode of the learner. Where the postcode is outside of England or not known it is included in the 'Outside of England and unknown' category.

(4) Geographies are taken from the National Statistics Postcode Lookup.

(5) Please see the 'Further education and skills statistics: methodology' document for more information about how 'supported by Apprenticeship service account levy funds' is derived.

(6) Route information is based on the latest information held on the IfATE 'Search the apprenticeships' page at the point of publication.


Written Question
Apprentices
Tuesday 12th December 2023

Asked by: Baroness Wolf of Dulwich (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many apprenticeship starts on the level 7 Senior Leadership standard there were in in (1) 2021–22, and (2) 2022–23; how many of these apprentices were employed in levy-paying organisations; and how many there were per region.

Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

Apprenticeship starts at Level 6 and 7 in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 academic years are shown in the following tables. All apprenticeships at Level 6 and Level 7 are classed as degree-level apprenticeships.

Apprenticeship level

Age group

2021/22

2022/23

Level 6

Under 19

2,190

3,220

19-24

8,500

8,600

25+

12,860

13,220

All ages

23,550

25,030

Apprenticeship level

Age group

2021/22

2022/23

Level 7

Under 19

360

450

19-24

7,630

7,770

25+

11,700

13,540

All ages

19,680

21,760


Level 7 Apprenticeship starts in the legal, finance and accounting route in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 academic years are shown in the tables below, along with breakdowns by region, and where starts were supported by Apprenticeship service account levy funds.

Level 7 Apprenticeship starts in the legal, finance and accounting route:

2021/22

2022/23

10,450

10,650


Of which supported by Apprenticeship service account levy funds:

2021/22

2022/23

8,420

8,670


Of which by region:

Region

2021/22

2022/23

East Midlands

680

670

East of England

1,110

1,060

London

2,360

2,460

North East

300

310

North West

1,450

1,350

South East

1,660

1,780

South West

880

930

West Midlands

1,010

1,050

Yorkshire and The Humber

800

850

Outside of England and unknown

200

200

Apprenticeship starts on the Level 7 Senior Leadership standard in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 academic years are shown in the tables below, along with breakdowns by region, and where starts were supported by Apprenticeship service account levy funds.


Level 7 Senior leader apprenticeship starts:

2021/22

2022/23

4,880

6,110


Of which supported by Apprenticeship service account levy funds:

2021/22

2022/23

4,210

5,270


Of which by region:

Region

2021/22

2022/23

East Midlands

390

510

East of England

520

640

London

810

1,100

North East

280

310

North West

600

750

South East

840

1,040

South West

450

470

West Midlands

580

650

Yorkshire and The Humber

350

560

Outside of England and unknown

70

80


There were 5,540 achievements in the Business and Administration Route in the 2022/23 academic year. Of these, 4,020 were on the Senior Leader (ST0480) apprenticeship standard.

Further information on apprenticeship starts can be found in the apprenticeships and traineeships statistics publication, which can be accessed at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/apprenticeships-and-traineeships.

Notes for tables:
(1) Volumes are rounded to the nearest 10.

(2) Data source is the individualised Learner Record.

(3) Geography is based upon the home postcode of the learner. Where the postcode is outside of England or not known it is included in the 'Outside of England and unknown' category.

(4) Geographies are taken from the National Statistics Postcode Lookup.

(5) Please see the 'Further education and skills statistics: methodology' document for more information about how 'supported by Apprenticeship service account levy funds' is derived.

(6) Route information is based on the latest information held on the IfATE 'Search the apprenticeships' page at the point of publication.


Written Question
Apprentices
Tuesday 12th December 2023

Asked by: Baroness Wolf of Dulwich (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many End Point Assessment Organisations are currently approved to carry out assessments for level 7 standards; and how many of these are (1) higher education institutions, (2) other educational institutions, (3) independent training providers, (4) awarding bodies or subsidiaries of awarding bodies, and (5) organisations that do not fall into any of those categories.

Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

For an organisation to deliver apprenticeship end-point assessments, they must be recognised by their external quality assurance regulator. For level 7 apprenticeship standards, this can be Ofqual, Office for Students, or in some cases, the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.

Once approved by the regulator, the end-point assessment organisation (EPAO) is required to be on the Apprenticeship Provider Assessment Register (APAR) so that they can be selected by the training provider, and be eligible for government funding.

Currently, there are 110 EPAOs listed on the APAR offering end-point assessment of level 7 apprenticeship standards. Of these, 64 are higher education institutions, 9 are other educational institutions, 9 are independent training providers, 11 are awarding bodies or subsidiaries of awarding bodies, and 17 are organisations that do not fall into any of those categories.


Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 11 Dec 2023
Local Enterprise Partnerships: Funding

Speech Link

View all Baroness Wolf of Dulwich (XB - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Local Enterprise Partnerships: Funding