Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Robin Swann and Janet Daby

Monday 28th April 2025 Commons Chamber

[Robin Swann (South Antrim) (UUP)]

3. What steps she is taking to ensure that non-levy paying employers receive apprenticeship funding.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education (Janet Daby)]

Labour is transforming the Tories’ failed apprenticeship levy into a growth and skills levy. The Government offer a range of support to non-levy-paying employers, including assistance with training costs and payments to take on younger apprentices. New foundation apprenticeships in construction will unlock opportunities for up to 10,000 young people. Apprenticeships, participation, achievement and starts have already increased under Labour, and we are going further and faster for growth.

[Robin Swann]

As the Minister will know, employers in Northern Ireland pay substantially into the apprenticeship levy but have no direct access to it. What steps is the Minister taking to enable them to receive direct benefits through the levy, so that we too can enjoy the benefits of which she spoke in her answer when she was having a dig at the Conservative party?

[Janet Daby]

As I am sure the hon. Member knows, skills are a devolved matter, and funding in the devolved Administrations remains the responsibility of those Governments. However, we will continue to engage with them as we deliver the levy-funded growth and skills offer for England.