Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment the Government has made of the potential effect on the economy of the target of 3 million apprenticeship starts by 2010.

Our reforms to apprenticeships will deliver benefits for individuals, businesses and the economy; helping to address skills shortages by making sure growth of higher quality apprenticeships meet the needs of employers.

Research published in June 2015 demonstrated the high level of return on investment delivered by the apprenticeships programme. On average, the economic benefits measured over the rest of the learner’s working life for a Level 2 and Level 3 apprenticeship start are estimated as £61,000 and £88,000 respectively.

In May 2018, we published our progress report on the apprenticeships reform programme which provides our latest assessment of its benefits. This can be found at the following: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/707896/Progress_report_on_the_Apprenticeships_Reform_Programme_May_2018.pdf.