Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the review of the Apprenticeships Levy announced as part of the Spring Statement on 23 March 2022, what matters are most frequently raised with him by (a) businesses, (b) trades unions and (c) colleges on the operation of the existing scheme.
Answered by Simon Clarke
As part of the Spring Statement, the Chancellor set out that he considers that a new culture of enterprise is essential to drive growth through higher productivity. Therefore, the government wants to create the conditions for the private sector to invest more, train more and innovate more.
As part of this work, the Chancellor committed to examining the tax system, including the operation of the Apprenticeship Levy, to determine whether it is doing enough to incentivise businesses to invest in the right kinds of training needed for the economy to strengthen and grow.
The government’s ambition is to encourage greater levels of private sector investment in employee training, both for apprentices and for employees more generally.
The Apprenticeship Levy is a key part of this ambition, it is helping employers invest in and train apprentices which provide businesses with the skills they need to meet their customers’ needs and grow. Employers who pay the Apprenticeship Levy can invest their funds in high-quality apprenticeship training, while the government covers 95 percent of the training costs for employers who do not pay the Levy using unspent levy funds.
The government has already transformed apprenticeships – which are jobs with training for anyone of any age, at any level or stage of their career – to align with employer needs. Since the announcement of the Apprenticeship Levy in May 2015, over 2.7 million apprenticeships have begun.
The government regularly engages with employers, training providers and other interested stakeholders. The Government has recognised that some employers have frustrations with the way that Apprenticeship Levy funds can be spend within the apprenticeships system.
To address these concerns, the Government has delivered various improvements to the apprenticeship system. These include the launch of Flexi-Job Apprenticeship Agencies – with 10 employers receiving a share of £5 million of funding to set up - and the introduction of the Pledge and Match Levy transfer system. Since launching in September 2021, 110 employers including Amazon UK, DPD and HomeServe have pledged to transfer over £7 million to support apprenticeships in businesses of all sizes.
While there will not be a formal review of the Apprenticeship Levy or system, the government is committed to protecting the quality of apprenticeship training and making further improvements to the system to respond to the legitimate concerns raised by employers. The Chancellor will update the House further in the Autumn.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the extent to which the Apprenticeships Levy has (a) funded new apprenticeships, (b) supported new provision for the acquisition of skills and (c) led to the rebadging of existing training since it was introduced; and whether he has plans to update those estimates to inform the review of the Apprenticeships Levy announced as part of the Spring Statement on 23 March 2022.
Answered by Simon Clarke
As part of the Spring Statement, the Chancellor set out that he considers that a new culture of enterprise is essential to drive growth through higher productivity. Therefore, the government wants to create the conditions for the private sector to invest more, train more and innovate more.
As part of this work, the Chancellor committed to examining the tax system, including the operation of the Apprenticeship Levy, to determine whether it is doing enough to incentivise businesses to invest in the right kinds of training needed for the economy to strengthen and grow.
The government’s ambition is to encourage greater levels of private sector investment in employee training, both for apprentices and for employees more generally.
The Apprenticeship Levy is a key part of this ambition, it is helping employers invest in and train apprentices which provide businesses with the skills they need to meet their customers’ needs and grow. Employers who pay the Apprenticeship Levy can invest their funds in high-quality apprenticeship training, while the government covers 95 percent of the training costs for employers who do not pay the Levy using unspent levy funds.
The government has already transformed apprenticeships – which are jobs with training for anyone of any age, at any level or stage of their career – to align with employer needs. Since the announcement of the Apprenticeship Levy in May 2015, over 2.7 million apprenticeships have begun.
The government regularly engages with employers, training providers and other interested stakeholders. The Government has recognised that some employers have frustrations with the way that Apprenticeship Levy funds can be spend within the apprenticeships system.
To address these concerns, the Government has delivered various improvements to the apprenticeship system. These include the launch of Flexi-Job Apprenticeship Agencies – with 10 employers receiving a share of £5 million of funding to set up - and the introduction of the Pledge and Match Levy transfer system. Since launching in September 2021, 110 employers including Amazon UK, DPD and HomeServe have pledged to transfer over £7 million to support apprenticeships in businesses of all sizes.
While there will not be a formal review of the Apprenticeship Levy or system, the government is committed to protecting the quality of apprenticeship training and making further improvements to the system to respond to the legitimate concerns raised by employers. The Chancellor will update the House further in the Autumn.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Spring Statement of 23 March 2022, what his planned timeline is for his review of the working of the Apprenticeships Levy; and when he plans for that review to report.
Answered by Simon Clarke
As part of the Spring Statement, the Chancellor set out that he considers that a new culture of enterprise is essential to drive growth through higher productivity. Therefore, the government wants to create the conditions for the private sector to invest more, train more and innovate more.
As part of this work, the Chancellor committed to examining the tax system, including the operation of the Apprenticeship Levy, to determine whether it is doing enough to incentivise businesses to invest in the right kinds of training needed for the economy to strengthen and grow.
The government’s ambition is to encourage greater levels of private sector investment in employee training, both for apprentices and for employees more generally.
The Apprenticeship Levy is a key part of this ambition, it is helping employers invest in and train apprentices which provide businesses with the skills they need to meet their customers’ needs and grow. Employers who pay the Apprenticeship Levy can invest their funds in high-quality apprenticeship training, while the government covers 95 percent of the training costs for employers who do not pay the Levy using unspent levy funds.
The government has already transformed apprenticeships – which are jobs with training for anyone of any age, at any level or stage of their career – to align with employer needs. Since the announcement of the Apprenticeship Levy in May 2015, over 2.7 million apprenticeships have begun.
The government regularly engages with employers, training providers and other interested stakeholders. The Government has recognised that some employers have frustrations with the way that Apprenticeship Levy funds can be spend within the apprenticeships system.
To address these concerns, the Government has delivered various improvements to the apprenticeship system. These include the launch of Flexi-Job Apprenticeship Agencies – with 10 employers receiving a share of £5 million of funding to set up - and the introduction of the Pledge and Match Levy transfer system. Since launching in September 2021, 110 employers including Amazon UK, DPD and HomeServe have pledged to transfer over £7 million to support apprenticeships in businesses of all sizes.
While there will not be a formal review of the Apprenticeship Levy or system, the government is committed to protecting the quality of apprenticeship training and making further improvements to the system to respond to the legitimate concerns raised by employers. The Chancellor will update the House further in the Autumn.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Spring Statement of 23 March 2022, what the process will be for his review of the working of the Apprenticeships Levy; and whether there will be an opportunity for (a) employers, (b) trades unions, (c) colleges and other training providers, (d) hon. Members, (e) councils and (f) other stakeholders to submit evidence to that review.
Answered by Simon Clarke
As part of the Spring Statement, the Chancellor set out that he considers that a new culture of enterprise is essential to drive growth through higher productivity. Therefore, the government wants to create the conditions for the private sector to invest more, train more and innovate more.
As part of this work, the Chancellor committed to examining the tax system, including the operation of the Apprenticeship Levy, to determine whether it is doing enough to incentivise businesses to invest in the right kinds of training needed for the economy to strengthen and grow.
The government’s ambition is to encourage greater levels of private sector investment in employee training, both for apprentices and for employees more generally.
The Apprenticeship Levy is a key part of this ambition, it is helping employers invest in and train apprentices which provide businesses with the skills they need to meet their customers’ needs and grow. Employers who pay the Apprenticeship Levy can invest their funds in high-quality apprenticeship training, while the government covers 95 percent of the training costs for employers who do not pay the Levy using unspent levy funds.
The government has already transformed apprenticeships – which are jobs with training for anyone of any age, at any level or stage of their career – to align with employer needs. Since the announcement of the Apprenticeship Levy in May 2015, over 2.7 million apprenticeships have begun.
The government regularly engages with employers, training providers and other interested stakeholders. The Government has recognised that some employers have frustrations with the way that Apprenticeship Levy funds can be spend within the apprenticeships system.
To address these concerns, the Government has delivered various improvements to the apprenticeship system. These include the launch of Flexi-Job Apprenticeship Agencies – with 10 employers receiving a share of £5 million of funding to set up - and the introduction of the Pledge and Match Levy transfer system. Since launching in September 2021, 110 employers including Amazon UK, DPD and HomeServe have pledged to transfer over £7 million to support apprenticeships in businesses of all sizes.
While there will not be a formal review of the Apprenticeship Levy or system, the government is committed to protecting the quality of apprenticeship training and making further improvements to the system to respond to the legitimate concerns raised by employers. The Chancellor will update the House further in the Autumn.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much has been spent by each (a) Government department and (b) non-departmental public body on (i) focus group research, (ii) opinion polling and (iii) other forms of opinion research in each of the last 20 years.
Answered by Simon Clarke
The Treasury does not hold research spend for other Governments Departments. However, the Government routinely publishes details of all contracts over £10,000 on Contracts Finder.
As has been the case under successive administrations, any Government research, polling or analysis would be for official use.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much has been spent by (a) his Department and (b) HMRC on (i) focus group research, (ii) opinion polling and (iii) other forms of opinion research in each of the last 20 years.
Answered by Simon Clarke
The Treasury does not hold research spend for other Governments Departments.
The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the total amount spent on childcare in England (a) from all sources and (b) from the public purse in each of the last five years.
Answered by Simon Clarke
The Government has spent over £4 billion each year for the last five years on childcare in the United Kingdom through childcare offers led by the Department for Education and Tax-Free Childcare and Employer Support Childcare. This £4 billion is on top of support for childcare paid to Universal Credit and Working Tax Credits claimants, though these elements are calculated as part of the total Universal Credit and tax credit spend respectively and separate figures are not available.
At SR21, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced an uplift to the hourly rates to be paid to early years providers to deliver the government’s free hours offers, and details of the £160 million for 2022 to 2023 have recently been announced by the Department for Education. Additionally, SR21 reaffirmed £150 million to be spent on the training of early years staff to support children’s learning and development, as part of the £1.4 billion Education Recovery Programme. Demonstrating the Government’s ongoing commitment to high-quality early years education, childcare and family services.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what targets he has set for improving the overall proportion of telephone calls received by HM Revenue and Customs which are answered within (a) five minutes, (b) 10 minutes and (c) at all.
Answered by Lucy Frazer
HMRC no longer has a target for the time taken to answer telephone calls. Instead, HMRC now measures the percentage of customers who want to talk to an advisor who are able to do so. This is called Advisor Attempts Handled. Further information on HMRC performance can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmrc-quarterly-performance-updates
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmrc-monthly-performance-reports
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the HMRC monthly performance report: September 2021, what proportion of the 51.7 per cent of iForms and letters sent to HMRC in September 2021 which were not answered within 15 days were answered within one calendar month.
Answered by Lucy Frazer
Information on HMRC performance can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmrc-quarterly-performance-updates
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmrc-monthly-performance-reports
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much his Department has spent on advertising campaigns carried out by or on behalf of HM Revenue and Customs to encourage timely submission of self assessment forms by people in each of the last 10 years.
Answered by Lucy Frazer
The amount HMRC spent on Self-Assessment advertising in the years 2014-21 is shown in the table below. HMRC does not hold records of spend before the 2014 -15 financial year.
2014 - 15 | £1,916,306 |
2015 – 16 | £1,369,871 |
2016 – 17 | £1,194,347 |
2017 – 18 | £1,147,806 |
2018 – 19 | £1,171,735 |
2019 – 20 | £724,395 |
2020 – 21 | £954,057 |