Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many responses have been received to the consultation on the proposed Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers; and if she will publish all such responses.

The new Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers will encourage diversity and competition in the provider market, supporting quality and employer choice. In August, the Skills Funding Agency published a discussion paper on proposals for the Register and sought feedback through a range of channels, including 597 responses through an online survey and focus groups with employers and providers. On 25 October 2016, we published the final proposals for the Register and set out how we have taken on board feedback from employers and providers: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/register-of-apprenticeship-training-providers-policy-information

The Register opened for applications on 25 October. The first selection of providers will be drawn from those that successfully complete their applications by 25 November. Results will be available to applicants in early March 2017.