Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the expansion of local apprenticeship services announced on 28 September 2026, what targets the Department has agreed for additional apprenticeship (a) starts and (b) completions in Walsall borough over the two-year funding period; and how those outcomes will be reported.

The government is investing £240 million to pilot enhanced apprenticeship brokerage services across all 14 Mayoral Strategic Authorities (MSAs). The programme will help more young people aged 16-24, particularly those who are not in education, employment or training, to access apprenticeship opportunities while supporting employers to recruit local talent.

We will be working closely with the MSAs to set realistic but ambitious key performance indicators reflecting local labour market conditions and priorities. Each MSA will design and deliver a locally tailored brokerage service, working with employers, training providers and local partners to identify apprenticeship opportunities, support recruitment and help young people access suitable vacancies. We expect this to increase the number of young people starting apprenticeships, alongside the government's wider efforts to reduce youth inactivity and support progression into work.