Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans has he to review how funds from the Apprenticeship levy are distributed in the absence of a Northern Ireland Executive.

The Northern Ireland Executive receives additional funding as a result of the UK-wide Apprenticeship Levy, which it can choose to use in its devolved areas of responsibility, including apprenticeships policy. Apprenticeships policy is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive Department for the Economy.

That is why the restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive, and a fully functioning Northern Ireland Assembly, is a key priority for the UK Government.