Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to allow businesses to direct the apprenticeship levy towards prison rehabilitation schemes.

The department fully supports preparing prisoners for employment upon their release and recognises how important this is. We are working with the Ministry of Justice to introduce an apprenticeship programme for those in prison and who are close to being released, in order for these individuals to benefit from the enhanced skills and employment prospects that apprenticeships bring.

We expect to make the necessary changes to legislation by the autumn to allow the first apprenticeship starts later on this year. Initially, up to 100 prisoners a year will be supported to begin an apprenticeship in custody.

The introduction of apprenticeships for serving prisoners later this year will allow levy-paying employers to use their levy funds to support apprenticeships for those in custody. Levy payers can already employ prisoners as apprentices upon their release and can use their levy funds to support these apprenticeships.

We do not have plans to allow businesses to direct levy funds intended for apprenticeships towards prisoner rehabilitation schemes. The Ministry of Justice is responsible for, and receives funding to deliver, prisoner education and rehabilitation services.