Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that the proportion of apprenticeships started by (a) people of black and minority ethnic backgrounds and (b) with a learning difficulty or disability is increased by 20 per cent by 2020.

To drive up apprenticeships among under-represented groups, including black, Asian and minority ethnic individuals, we launched a new partnership in February with five major cities in England, supported by city Mayors, to ensure apprenticeships are accessible to individuals from all backgrounds.

The department is delivering the recommendations of the Maynard Taskforce to improve access to apprenticeships for people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. We have introduced legislation which allows an adjustment to the minimum English and mathematics requirement for those with learning difficulties or a disability. We have made British Sign Language (BSL) an alternative to English Functional Skills for those apprentices who have BSL as their first language.

The funding system is intended to encourage the successful apprenticeship take up and likely achievement of particular groups, including people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. We are working with the Institute for Apprenticeships to ensure end-point assessments can be reasonably adjusted for apprentices with learning difficulties and/or disabilities.

Our Apprenticeship Diversity Champions Network, now comprised of over 40 employers, continues to influence the behaviour of other employers to support more people from underrepresented groups to access apprenticeships.