Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the Education and Skills Funding Agency has offered apprenticeships in each year since 2017.
Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The government is committed to using apprenticeships to break down barriers to opportunity, support skills development and deliver more effective public services.
As the policy holder for apprenticeships, the department has achieved over 5% of departmental headcount for the last three years. We offer apprenticeships to fill strategic skills gaps and as a development opportunity to all employees.
The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) closed on 31 March 2025, with its work being integrated into the department.
The department has made use of apprenticeships in its workforce since 2016 and recruitment data for ESFA can be found in the following table:
Year | Number of ESFA Apprentice enrolments starting in year |
2016 | 3 |
2017 | 6 |
2018 | 50 |
2019 | 60 |
2020 | 57 |
2021 | 56 |
2022 | 51 |
2023 | 16 |
2024 | 26 |
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether Ofqual has offered apprenticeships in each year since 2010.
Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
This is a matter for Ofqual, the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation. I have asked its Chief Regulator, Sir Ian Bauckham, to write to the right hon. Member and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the level of funds invested by Chinese firms in the UK water sector in the next ten years.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government recognises the important role of independent regulation in attracting the investment our water sector needs to deliver for both current and future consumers. We are aware there has been investment into the water sector in the UK by Chinese investors. Under Ofwat’s current processes, Ofwat are notified of acquisitions in line with water company licence conditions.
Ofwat, as the independent economic regulator, protects the interests of consumers by making sure water companies carry out their statutory functions and are financially resilient as well as holding them to account on overall performance and delivery of essential services.
These same standards and licence conditions apply across all water companies, regardless of whether they are owned by foreign or domestic investors.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average waiting time is for a practical driving test in (a) Lincolnshire and (b) the East Midlands.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The average waiting time for a practical driving test at test centres in both (a) Lincolnshire and (b) the East Midlands, is 24 weeks respectively, as of 21 April 2025.
The current national average for a practical driving test as of March 2025 is 21.7 weeks.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what guidance his Department is providing to local authorities to help them (a) manage and (b) enforce firework safety regulations in areas where firework misuse has led to (i) vandalism and (ii) antisocial behaviour.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Enforcement powers exist for local authorities to take action when fireworks are unsafe, sold illegally or misused. Local authorities and the police also have powers to tackle anti-social behaviour caused by the misuse of fireworks. It is for local areas to decide how best to deploy these powers, based on their circumstances.
New Respect Orders will enable police and local councils to enforce strict behavioural conditions on persistent perpetrators of antisocial behaviour - banning them from local town centres and neighbourhoods including high streets and parks. Offenders could be required to address causes of their behaviour through mandatory rehabilitative conditions.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether Active Travel England has offered apprenticeships in each year since it was set up.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Active Travel England has not yet advertised apprenticeships for external candidates. Existing employees can access the Department’s apprenticeship offer of level 2 – 7 apprenticeships across a range of skills, including data, finance and project delivery, as part of their personal development. The agency has supported one new joiner to complete an apprenticeship they were part-way through.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of key stage four students who completed their GCSEs went on to (a) start apprenticeships, (b) study A levels and (c) start vocational technical qualifications in (i) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (ii) Lincolnshire in each of the last five academic years for which data is available.
Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The information requested is not held centrally.
The department does, however, measure the proportion of students in state-funded mainstream schools who go on to sustain a destination after completing their key stage 4 study. Data relating to South Holland and the Deepings constituency and Lincolnshire can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/7c67e37a-6bf9-4706-9b63-08dd7377d1ad.
A breakdown of the sustained education destination by A level and vocational technical qualifications is not readily available, however, the number of students at the end of their 16 to 18 study who studied A levels and vocational technical qualifications in South Holland and the Deepings constituency can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/4dbda504-885f-4ecd-a918-08dd736ca4ba.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of changes in the number of 18-24 year olds claiming jobseeker’s allowance in South Holland and the Deepings constituency; and what steps she plans to take to help young people find jobs.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The latest published statistics can be obtained from Stat-Xplore - Log in Guidance on how to use it can be found here: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/User-Guide.html
DWP currently provides young people aged 16-24 with labour market support through an extensive range of interventions at a national and local level. This includes flexible provision driven by local need. Spalding Jobcentre works very closely with several training providers such as National Careers Service, Boston College, Tonic Health, LCVS and Net UK.
As part of our plan to Get Britain Working, we are launching a new Youth Guarantee for all young people aged 18-21 in England to ensure that they can access quality training opportunities, an apprenticeship or help to find work. We will use the learning from eight Mayoral Strategic Authorities Youth Guarantee Trailblazers to inform the future design and development of the Youth Guarantee across England.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether Ofgem has offered apprenticeships in each year since 2010.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Civil Service is committed to using apprenticeships to break down barriers to opportunity, support skills development and deliver more effective public services.
Ofgem gives access to the apprenticeship levy for professional qualifications, and this has been available for existing employees since the levy was introduced.
Ofgem has made use of the apprenticeship levy in its workforce since 2017 and recruitment data, where available, has been provided below in Ofgem’s annual reports and accounts: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/about-us/ofgem-annual-reports.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether HM Land Registry has offered apprenticeships since 2010.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Civil Service is committed to using apprenticeships to break down barriers to opportunity, support skills development and deliver more effective public services.
HM Land Registry has offered 800 apprenticeships across England and Wales since 2014.
Those apprenticeships have ranged from Level 2 to Level 7 to support personal development and increase organisational capability while also supporting apprentices to join Government Professions such as Digital, Data & Technology, Legal, HR and Finance.