Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the Government still has a target of three million apprentices by 2020.

In 2015 we set an ambitious goal of three million apprenticeship starts by 2020, and that remains our ambition.

Whilst we want to see an increased number of apprenticeships starts we will not sacrifice quality for quantity. It is important that all apprenticeships are of the highest quality - delivering the skills valued by employers that will increase productivity and help stimulate growth.