Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what representations he has received from the Welsh Government on the effect of the apprenticeship levy on Wales.

We have worked closely with the Welsh Government to ensure fair and transparent funding and, as far as possible, to develop a system for administering the levy which complements the skills and apprenticeship policies of each of the devolved administrations.

Last month, HM Treasury announced that £128m will be allocated to Wales in the first year of the levy alone. It is up to the Welsh Government to decide what proportion of this is allocated to funding apprenticeships and skills policy.