Oral Answers to Questions

Gregory Campbell Excerpts

Tuesday 22nd October 2019 Commons Chamber

[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.

[Anne Milton (Guildford) (Ind)]

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

--- Later in debate ---

[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.

[Mr Campbell]

Employers complain about the inflexibility of the apprenticeship levy. What steps is the Minister taking to ensure that it becomes more flexible, leading to greater dynamism in our local economy?

[Andrea Leadsom]

The hon. Gentleman will be aware that the apprenticeship levy is collected from Northern Ireland businesses, with Northern Ireland subsequently receiving a Barnett consequential of spending on apprenticeships in England, which is funded by the levy. Ensuring that apprenticeship policy in Northern Ireland is delivering for Northern Ireland businesses is just one of a number for reasons why it is so essential that devolved government in Northern Ireland is restored.