Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the number of employees who work for companies who will have to pay the Apprenticeship Levy who are ineligible to complete an apprenticeship by virtue of being able to work for less than 30 hours.

Data on the numbers of employees of levy-paying companies that work fewer than 30 hours per week is not available.

Although apprenticeships are full-time jobs and an apprentice should work at least 30 hours per week, in exceptional circumstances, such as where the apprentice has caring responsibilities, a minimum of 16 hours per week may be agreed between the apprentice and the employer.

In circumstances where the apprentice works fewer than 30 hours per week, the duration of the apprenticeship must be extended accordingly so that the minimum requirements for duration are still met.