Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of recruits at ITC Catterick and ATC Pirbright have enrolled for an intermediate level apprenticeship study for L2 qualifications in English and mathematics.

The Army is the UK's largest provider of apprenticeships as an employer.

All direct entry into The Infantry Training Centre Catterick Infantry are enrolled on a Level 2 apprenticeship, as part of the combined Combat Infantryman's Course. Those who have progressed from Army Foundation College Harrogate will already have enrolled onto the apprenticeship.

The requirement for a Level 2 apprenticeship is that apprentices achieve Level 1 Functional Skills in English and maths. Where the individual apprentice already holds Level 1 qualifications in English and maths or demonstrates a higher level of capability in those subjects, they are given the opportunity to work towards Level 2 during their apprenticeship. Of the Infantry soldiers in active learning in academic year 2015/16, 11% have gained Level 2 in maths and 12% have gained Level 2 in English within the Army. The number of personnel who work towards a Level 2 but who do not complete the exams is not centrally held.

Apprenticeships are not delivered at Army Training Centre, Pirbright as they are provided to recruits as part of their specialised trade training, and not during initial training.