Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what steps his Department is taking to support an increase in the number of apprenticeship opportunities in Scotland.

The UK Government has set an ambitious target of 3 million apprenticeship starts in England by 2020. In Scotland, Skills Policy is devolved, therefore the provision of apprenticeship opportunities is the responsibility of the Scottish Government.

The UK Government have also provided funding to the Scottish Government through an increase in the block grant from the Apprenticeship Levy, implemented on the 6^th April 2017. Devolved Administrations receive a population share of the Office for Budget Responsibility’s apprenticeship levy forecast. The Scottish Government decide how to allocate this funding to their devolved responsibilities.

The Jobcentre Plus network in Scotland also promotes the many benefits of apprenticeships to both employers and claimants.