Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of (a) reducing the amount employers pay into the apprenticeship levy and (b) extending the amount of time before funds expire; and if he will make a statement.

The Apprenticeship Levy has been set at a level that raises sufficient funds to support the starts we expect to generate. Once levy funds enter employers’ accounts, they can be used to pay for training for 24 months before they begin to expire on a rolling, month-by-month basis. Income from the levy is also used to fund apprenticeship training for non-levy paying employers.

We will keep our funding policy under review to ensure that apprenticeships continue to be affordable and offer value for money for the taxpayer.