Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations her Department has made as part of the process considering the future of the commercial airline pilot apprenticeship.

The Department for Transport engages regularly with Skills England, airlines, the Aviation Industry Skills Board and trade bodies to support delivery of the First Officer apprenticeship and explore more affordable routes into pilot training. Although a training organisation has been approved to deliver the apprenticeship at no cost to trainees, delivery is currently paused because of a lack of airline take-up.

Ministers and departmental officials continue to encourage industry participation, while individual airlines remain responsible for training, recruiting and retaining pilots.