Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if it remains the Government’s policy to fund the entire apprenticeship programme for levy and non-levy paying employers in England from the proceeds of the apprenticeship levy.

Some funding for apprenticeships comes from employers themselves. We ask those employers who do not pay the levy, or have insufficient funds in their apprenticeship service account, to make a 10 per cent contribution towards the costs of apprenticeship off-the-job training and assessment. We waive this co-investment for smaller employers who take on 16 to 18 year olds, disadvantaged apprentices, care leavers or those with learning disabilities.

Her Majesty's Treasury collects the apprenticeship levy and the Devolved Administrations receive a proportionate share. In England, Her Majesty's Treasury has agreed the apprenticeships budget with the department. We are investing in skills across the whole of England and by 2019-20 the annual spending on apprenticeships in England will reach £2.45 billion, which is double that spent in 2010-11.