Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 21 November to Question 112477, when her Department plans to assess the effect of the Apprenticeship Levy on the number of apprenticeship starts.

The National Apprenticeship Service undertakes a wide range of activities with employers of all sizes. This is to make sure they are aware of the apprenticeship levy and are encouraged to use it along with other funding reforms to grow their apprenticeship programmes. Such activities include meetings, events, a National Contact Centre, and personal account management for the largest levy-paying employers.

In 2018, we will be launching National Apprenticeship Week in March, which will celebrate apprenticeships across all industries. In addition, our Apprenticeship and Young Apprenticeship Ambassador networks will be promoting the government's reforms amongst employers.

We also work with the Apprenticeship Delivery Board, which advises on, and will play an active part in supporting the expansion of apprenticeships nationally.

Pursuant to the reply for question 112477, which can be found at: http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-questions-answers/?page=1&max=20&questiontype=AllQuestions&house=commons%2clords&uin=112477, we continue to engage with employers, providers and apprentices to review the impact of apprenticeship reforms, including the apprencticeship levy.