Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate her Department has made of the number of apprenticeship starts in the food, farming and agri-tech sectors in each year since 2010; and if she will make a statement.

The table below shows apprenticeship starts in each year since 2010/11. This is based on the number of starts under the Food Manufacture, Agriculture and Horticulture frameworks. The Apprenticeships Levy, being introduced in April, is expected to drive a further increase in apprenticeship numbers.

In the next few years, frameworks are being replaced by employer-led standards. The food and farming industry is developing such standards which will better meet the needs of the industry.