Oral Answers to Questions

Desmond Swayne Excerpts

Tuesday 22nd October 2019 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State was asked—

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

1. What guidance her Department has issued to businesses to help them make more effective use of the apprenticeship levy.

[Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry) (DUP)]

3. What steps her Department is taking to help businesses realise the potential benefits to their organisation of the apprenticeship levy.

[The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Andrea Leadsom)]

I strongly believe that apprenticeships are a superb option for people to earn and learn. In my Department, we have 154 apprentices, 149 of whom are levy funded. I have taken on a new school leaver apprentice in my office every year since becoming an MP, which has been an excellent experience for them and for my team. Since the introduction of the apprenticeship levy, we have made changes to ensure that businesses can spend up to 25% of it in their supply chain, and I am delighted that the number of people starting higher-level apprenticeships has increased by over 40% since the 2016-17 academic year.

[Sir Desmond Swayne]

Is the 80:20 rule an overhead that is unwelcome to employers who have to provide cover for employees who are learning?

[Andrea Leadsom]

My right hon. Friend makes a really important point, but he will appreciate that off-the-job training is vital for apprentices to develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours they need to succeed at work. The 20% off-the-job training rule is based on standards used by apprenticeship programmes regarded as world class, such as those in Switzerland and Germany, which we have made it our ambition to at least match.