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1167492
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2019-10-30more like thismore than 2019-10-30
answering body
Treasury more like this
answering dept id 14 more like this
answering dept short name Treasury more like this
answering dept sort name Treasury more like this
hansard heading Cash Dispensing: Fees and Charges more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of interchange fee reductions on the number of free-to-use ATMs. more like this
tabling member constituency Carshalton and Wallington more like this
tabling member printed
Tom Brake more like this
uin 7628 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2019-11-04more like thismore than 2019-11-04
answer text <p>The Government has not carried out a formal assessment of the effect of interchange fee reductions on the number of free-to-use ATMs.</p><p> </p><p>Although the management and deployment of ATMs is a commercial matter for ATM market participants, the Government recognises that widespread access to cash remains extremely important to the day-to-day lives of many consumers and businesses in the UK.</p><p> </p><p>The number of free-to-use ATMs increased for over a decade up to 2017, with the majority of ATMs clustered in areas of high demand and footfall. LINK, the scheme that runs the UK’s ATM network, saw this situation as unsustainable. Therefore, in January 2018, LINK announced reductions to the interchange fee, while taking steps to preserve the broad geographic spread of free-to-use ATMs. This included protections for remote free-to-use ATMs, one kilometre or further from the next nearest free-to-use ATM or Post Office.</p><p> </p><p>In July 2018, LINK responded to lower transaction volumes at ATMs by cancelling the third reduction of interchange fees due in January 2020 and putting on hold the 4th reduction that was due in January 2021.</p><p> </p><p>More recently, LINK committed to protecting free access to cash on high streets – where there are five or more qualifying retailers – and announced £1 million to fund requests for new ATMs from local areas with poor access to cash. Furthermore, UK Finance – the trade association for the UK banking and financial services sector – has launched a Community Access to Cash Initiative, offering grants to local communities to improve cash access.</p><p> </p><p>As of June 2019, there were 48,500 free-to-use ATMs in the UK, which represented 78% of the total number of ATMs. This remains 21% higher than a decade ago.</p>
answering member constituency Salisbury more like this
answering member printed John Glen more like this
grouped question UIN 7626 more like this
question first answered
less than 2019-11-04T16:02:09.06Zmore like thismore than 2019-11-04T16:02:09.06Z
answering member
4051
label Biography information for John Glen more like this
tabling member
151
label Biography information for Tom Brake more like this
1167493
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2019-10-30more like thismore than 2019-10-30
answering body
Department for Education more like this
answering dept id 60 more like this
answering dept short name Education more like this
answering dept sort name Education more like this
hansard heading Apprentices: Taxation more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Government’s apprenticeship and levy statistics, published in October 2019, how many of the 780 recorded accounts of apprenticeship levy voucher transfers resulting on starts on standards were transferred from levy-paying companies to non-levy paying small to medium-sized employers; and what proportion of those apprenticeships were in the construction sector. more like this
tabling member constituency Scunthorpe more like this
tabling member printed
Nic Dakin more like this
uin 7734 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2019-11-04more like thismore than 2019-11-04
answer text <p>Levy-paying employers in England do not use digital vouchers. Employers that pay the apprenticeship levy use funds in their apprenticeship service accounts to pay for training and assessment and to transfer to other employers</p><p><br> In October 2019, the apprenticeships and levy statistics publication reported that there were 780 transferred commitments that have materialised into apprenticeship starts as recorded on the Individualised Learner Record (ILR) as at 31 August 2019. Of these, 20 (2.7%) were starts in the Construction, Planning and Built Environment sector subject area.</p><p>Please note:<br> 1) The figures above are rounded to the nearest 10 and percentage to 1 decimal place.</p><p>2) The percentage is derived from unrounded figures.</p><p>3) The figures above show only those transfers where a start is taking place on a standard in the Construction, Planning and Built Environment sector subject area. The construction industry sector could include starts on standards in other sector subject areas (i.e. Business, Administration and Law). <br> <br> We are unable to identify whether a transfer between apprenticeship service accounts was from a levy-paying company to a non-levy paying company as we do not centrally hold data on the size of employer and their industry sector. This means we cannot identify if these transfers of levy funds were to the apprenticeship service accounts of small to medium-sized employers. The Department for Education does, however, periodically perform an analysis linking ILR data to the Inter-Departmental Business Register data (held by the Office for National Statistics) to identify the size and industry sector of employers, with the most recent analysis covering the 2016/17 academic year. Thes statistics are available at the following link:<br> <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/apprenticeships-in-england-by-industry-characteristics" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/apprenticeships-in-england-by-industry-characteristics</a>.</p>
answering member constituency Chippenham more like this
answering member printed Michelle Donelan more like this
question first answered
less than 2019-11-04T16:37:23.277Zmore like thismore than 2019-11-04T16:37:23.277Z
answering member
4530
label Biography information for Michelle Donelan more like this
tabling member
4056
label Biography information for Nic Dakin more like this
1167494
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2019-10-30more like thismore than 2019-10-30
answering body
Department for Education more like this
answering dept id 60 more like this
answering dept short name Education more like this
answering dept sort name Education more like this
hansard heading Apprentices: Construction more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many Level 2 apprenticeship starts there were in construction in (a) 2018-19, (b) 2017-18, (c) 2016-17 and (d) 2015-16. more like this
tabling member constituency Scunthorpe more like this
tabling member printed
Nic Dakin more like this
uin 7735 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2019-11-04more like thismore than 2019-11-04
answer text <p>The below table shows level 2 apprenticeship starts in the construction industry sector for the 2015/16 and 2016/17 academic years. This is the latest available data, and it is taken from the ‘Apprenticeships in England by Industry Characteristics’ statistics publication: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/apprenticeships-in-england-by-industry-characteristics" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/apprenticeships-in-england-by-industry-characteristics</a>.</p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><p><strong>Table 1: Level 2 apprenticeship starts in the construction industry sector: 2015/16 to 2016/17</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Academic year</p></td><td><p>Number of level 2 apprenticeship starts</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015/16</p></td><td><p>19,470</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016/17</p></td><td><p>18,390</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Notes:</p><p>1) All numbers are rounded to the nearest 10.</p><p> </p><p>We also publish apprenticeship starts by sector subject area. The number of level 2 apprenticeship starts for the sector subject area ‘Construction, Planning and the Built Environment’ for the academic years 2015/16 to 2017/18 is shown in the table below, along with starts in the first 3 quarters of the 2018/19 academic year. Data for 2015/16 to 2017/18 are published here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/804343/Monthly-apprenticeship-starts-fwk-tool_May-2019.xlsx" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/804343/Monthly-apprenticeship-starts-fwk-tool_May-2019.xlsx</a>.</p><p>Data for the first 3 quarters of 2018/19 are published here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/814997/Apprenticeship-starts-ach-framework-standard-tool_201718_Q3-201819_July2019.xlsx" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/814997/Apprenticeship-starts-ach-framework-standard-tool_201718_Q3-201819_July2019.xlsx</a>.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong>Table 2: Level 2 apprenticeship starts in Construction, Planning and the Built Environment sector subject area: 2015/16 to Q3 2018/19</strong></p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Academic year</p></td><td><p>Number of level 2 apprenticeship starts</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015/16</p></td><td><p>16,670</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016/17</p></td><td><p>15,840</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017/18</p></td><td><p>14,770</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018/19 (August to April 19) provisional</p></td><td><p>11,630</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Notes:</p><p>1) The data source is the Individualised Learner Record (ILR).</p><p>2) In this table, numbers are a count of the number of starts at any point during the period. Learners starting more than one apprenticeship will appear more than once.</p><p>3) Apprenticeship starts include all funded and unfunded learners reported on the ILR.</p><p>4) For the 2018/19 academic year (reported to date), numbers are counted only for months August 18 to April 19 (quarter 3).</p><p>5) All numbers are rounded to the nearest 10.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p>
answering member constituency Chippenham more like this
answering member printed Michelle Donelan more like this
question first answered
less than 2019-11-04T17:34:56.44Zmore like thismore than 2019-11-04T17:34:56.44Z
answering member
4530
label Biography information for Michelle Donelan more like this
tabling member
4056
label Biography information for Nic Dakin more like this
1167495
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2019-10-30more like thismore than 2019-10-30
answering body
Department for Education more like this
answering dept id 60 more like this
answering dept short name Education more like this
answering dept sort name Education more like this
hansard heading Apprentices: Construction more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how a student completing an On-Site Construction T Level will transition onto a Level 2 apprenticeship in bricklaying should that student need more training in hand skills on that specialist pathway. more like this
tabling member constituency Scunthorpe more like this
tabling member printed
Nic Dakin more like this
uin 7736 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2019-11-04more like thismore than 2019-11-04
answer text <p>The T level in On-Site Construction incorporates a number of occupational standards, including level 2 Bricklayer. A T level student who chooses the bricklaying occupational specialism will therefore develop many of the skills included in the level 2 Bricklayer apprenticeship. Once the T level qualification has been approved, we will be able to assess more accurately any differences between the competence conveyed by the level 2 Bricklayer apprenticeship and the T level in On-Site Construction.</p><p>Under current apprenticeship rules, a T level student would be able to progress to a level 2 apprenticeship if it allows them to acquire substantive new skills and the content of the training is materially different from their T level. The apprenticeship would need to be a minimum of 12 months in duration and involve at least 20% off-the-job training.</p><p>Our analysis of the overlap between the approved T level qualification and the level 2 apprenticeship will therefore be important in determining progression options, including eligibility for an apprenticeship at the same or a lower level.</p><p> </p>
answering member constituency Chippenham more like this
answering member printed Michelle Donelan more like this
question first answered
less than 2019-11-04T17:24:09.123Zmore like thismore than 2019-11-04T17:24:09.123Z
answering member
4530
label Biography information for Michelle Donelan more like this
tabling member
4056
label Biography information for Nic Dakin more like this
1167496
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2019-10-30more like thismore than 2019-10-30
answering body
Department for Education more like this
answering dept id 60 more like this
answering dept short name Education more like this
answering dept sort name Education more like this
hansard heading Vocational Guidance: Construction more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress he has made on promoting the vocational pathways available for students wishing to pursue a career in construction to (a) teachers, (b) students, (c) careers advisors and (d) parents and guardians. more like this
tabling member constituency Scunthorpe more like this
tabling member printed
Nic Dakin more like this
uin 7737 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2019-11-04more like thismore than 2019-11-04
answer text <p>Careers guidance is improving steadily across the country following the publication of the government’s careers strategy in December 2017. Schools and colleges are making good progress against the Gatsby benchmarks and showing improvements on every dimension of careers support. That means that young people are getting better information about the labour market, different education and training pathways and access to personal guidance to formulate ideas into a careers plan. Teachers are helping students to link their curriculum learning to future careers.</p><p>Through the Baker Clause, the department is improving the visibility and quality of advice on vocational routes by requiring schools to invite other providers to talk to students about the technical qualifications and apprenticeships that they offer.</p><p>The Careers &amp; Enterprise Company is making sure that every young person has access to encounters with employers from a variety of sectors, which may include the construction industry. Information on a variety of careers, including construction, can also be found on the National Careers Service website.</p><p>The department promotes technical pathways, including for students interested in construction. We recently launched our T level communications campaign, aimed at young people, parents, teachers and employers. A new website (<a href="http://www.tlevels.gov.uk" target="_blank">www.tlevels.gov.uk</a>.) includes the function to search for providers delivering T levels from September 2020, including those in Construction (‘Design, Surveying and Planning’).</p><p>Apprenticeships available in the sector include Construction Site Engineering Technician, Installation Electrician and Civil Engineering Site Management. Our apprenticeships campaign, Fire It Up, demonstrates that apprenticeships are an aspirational choice for anyone with passion and energy. We have also developed Amazing Apprenticeships, a website and resource portal for schools and teachers.</p><p>In addition, we offer a free service to schools through the Apprenticeship Support and Knowledge (ASK) project to ensure that teachers have the knowledge and support to enable them to promote apprenticeships to their students. During the 2018-19 academic year, the ASK programme reached over 300,000 students across 2,368 establishments and from September 2019, it has been extended to include years 7 to 9.</p><p> </p>
answering member constituency Chippenham more like this
answering member printed Michelle Donelan more like this
question first answered
less than 2019-11-04T14:53:32.363Zmore like thismore than 2019-11-04T14:53:32.363Z
answering member
4530
label Biography information for Michelle Donelan more like this
tabling member
4056
label Biography information for Nic Dakin more like this
1167497
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2019-10-30more like thismore than 2019-10-30
answering body
Ministry of Defence more like this
answering dept id 11 more like this
answering dept short name Defence more like this
answering dept sort name Defence more like this
hansard heading Ministry of Defence: West Worcestershire more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on the local economy of West Worcestershire constituency of (a) spending and (b) investment by (i) his Department and (ii) the armed forces since 2010; and if he will place that information in the Library. more like this
tabling member constituency West Worcestershire more like this
tabling member printed
Harriett Baldwin more like this
uin 7738 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2019-11-04more like thismore than 2019-11-04
answer text <p>The Ministry of Defence's (MOD) over-riding priority is to provide national security for the UK as a whole and its extensive regional footprint exists to provide UK national security.</p><p>Spending or investment decisions are appraised on the basis of costs and benefits to UK society overall irrespective of the location of the expenditure, as required by HM Treasury Green Book.</p><p>The department does not routinely undertake assessments of the effect of national spending or investment decisions on local economies.</p><p>MOD Regional Expenditure with UK Industry and Commerce and Supported Employment is published at the Government Office Regional level as a National Statistic at the following link:</p><p>https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/774871/Finance_and_economics_annual_statistical_bulletin_201718.pdf</p> more like this
answering member constituency Berwick-upon-Tweed more like this
answering member printed Anne-Marie Trevelyan more like this
grouped question UIN
7715 more like this
7723 more like this
7761 more like this
7772 more like this
7783 more like this
7790 more like this
7794 more like this
7796 more like this
question first answered
less than 2019-11-04T16:25:40.247Zmore like thismore than 2019-11-04T16:25:40.247Z
answering member
4531
label Biography information for Anne-Marie Trevelyan more like this
tabling member
4107
label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin more like this
1167498
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2019-10-30more like thismore than 2019-10-30
answering body
Department of Health and Social Care more like this
answering dept id 17 more like this
answering dept short name Health and Social Care more like this
answering dept sort name Health and Social Care more like this
hansard heading Food: Hygiene more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to bring forward legislative proposals to require food outlets to display food hygiene ratings. more like this
tabling member constituency Houghton and Sunderland South more like this
tabling member printed
Bridget Phillipson more like this
uin 7739 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2019-11-04more like thismore than 2019-11-04
answer text <p>The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme is operated by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in partnership with local authorities across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.</p><p> </p><p>Food businesses covered by the scheme are provided with stickers showing their rating. Those in Wales and Northern Ireland are already required by law to display the stickers at their premises, while those in England are encouraged to do so.</p><p> </p><p>The FSA is finalising an evidence-based case for a statutory mandatory display scheme which will be submitted for ministerial consideration and ultimately cross-Government approval.</p> more like this
answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds more like this
answering member printed Jo Churchill more like this
question first answered
less than 2019-11-04T17:55:09.473Zmore like thismore than 2019-11-04T17:55:09.473Z
answering member
4380
label Biography information for Jo Churchill more like this
tabling member
4046
label Biography information for Bridget Phillipson more like this
1167499
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2019-10-30more like thismore than 2019-10-30
answering body
Department for Education more like this
answering dept id 60 more like this
answering dept short name Education more like this
answering dept sort name Education more like this
hansard heading Apprentices: Taxation more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the ability of apprenticeship levy paying employers to transfer levy funds to non-levy paying employers. more like this
tabling member constituency Blackpool South more like this
tabling member printed
Gordon Marsden more like this
uin 7647 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2019-11-04more like thismore than 2019-11-04
answer text <p>We are committed to supporting employers to engage with apprenticeships to help invest in the long-term skills needs of their business. We have already seen employers making use of transfers to support apprenticeship starts in their supply chains, or to meet local skills needs. Since April 2018 there have been 1,020 transferred commitments where the transfer of funds between apprenticeship service accounts had been approved. Of these transferred commitments, 780 have so far resulted in apprenticeship starts.</p><p>We have taken a number of steps to make it easier for levy-paying employers to transfer funds to other employers. In response to employer feedback, in April 2019 we raised the cap on transfers to 25% of the annual value of funds entering levy-payers’ apprenticeship service accounts. We have also announced that we will shortly enable levy payers to transfer funds to cover the full cost of training for 16 to 18 year olds in the smallest businesses with fewer than 50 employers.</p><p>Transfers give levy-paying employers more options in how they use their levy funds, as well as creating apprenticeship opportunities for organisations who may have previously felt that employing an apprentice was beyond their reach. We are pleased to see that levy payers with uncommitted funds are increasingly using transfers to support apprenticeship starts in non-levy paying employers.</p><p> </p>
answering member constituency Chippenham more like this
answering member printed Michelle Donelan more like this
question first answered
less than 2019-11-04T17:08:24.637Zmore like thismore than 2019-11-04T17:08:24.637Z
answering member
4530
label Biography information for Michelle Donelan more like this
tabling member
465
label Biography information for Gordon Marsden more like this
1167500
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2019-10-30more like thismore than 2019-10-30
answering body
Department for Education more like this
answering dept id 60 more like this
answering dept short name Education more like this
answering dept sort name Education more like this
hansard heading Apprentices more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the trends in the level of apprenticeship starts for people aged (a) 16, (b) 17 and (c) 18 years old. more like this
tabling member constituency Blackpool South more like this
tabling member printed
Gordon Marsden more like this
uin 7648 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2019-11-04more like thismore than 2019-11-04
answer text <p>Our reforms to apprenticeships have fundamentally changed what apprenticeships are and the long-term opportunities they provide for people of all ages and backgrounds.</p><p> </p><p>We publish data on apprenticeship starts by demographic on a quarterly basis. The most recent data can be found at: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/815288/Apprenticeship-starts-ach-detailed-demographic_201718_Q3-201819_July2019.xlsx" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/815288/Apprenticeship-starts-ach-detailed-demographic_201718_Q3-201819_July2019.xlsx</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The table below shows an extract of apprenticeships starts data by the ages requested from the 2016/17 and 2017/18 academic years, as well as data for quarter 1 to 3 of the 2017/18 and 2018/19 academic years. Full data for the 2018/19 academic year will be published on 28 November at:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/further-education-and-skills-official-statistics" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/further-education-and-skills-official-statistics</a>.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Age</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2016/17</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2017/18</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2017/18 </strong> <strong>Q1-Q3</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2018/19</strong> <strong> Q1-Q3</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>16</strong></p></td><td><p>29,050</p></td><td><p>25,330</p></td><td><p>22,310</p></td><td><p>20,880</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>17</strong></p></td><td><p>41,110</p></td><td><p>35,020</p></td><td><p>29,330</p></td><td><p>26,450</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>18</strong></p></td><td><p>52,390</p></td><td><p>46,090</p></td><td><p>38,620</p></td><td><p>35,980</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>All Ages</strong></p></td><td><p>494,900</p></td><td><p>375,800</p></td><td><p>290,500</p></td><td><p>311,200</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>There have been 311,200 apprenticeship starts reported in the first 3 quarters of the 2018/19 academic year, a 7.1% rise compared to the same period in the 2017/18 academic year. In parallel, we continue to see a reduction in the number of level 2 starts during the first 3 quarters of the 2018/19 academic year, down 10% compared to the same point the previous year. We know that 16-18 year olds in particular are more likely to undertake a level 2 apprenticeship and therefore be affected by this reduction.</p><p> </p><p>This change in level 2 starts has largely occurred where apprenticeships were struggling to meet the minimum quality standards required by our reforms. We are replacing old-style frameworks, which apprentices and employers told us were not providing the skills they needed, with new employer-designed standards. Apprenticeships are intended to take people to a point of full competence in their chosen occupation. It is therefore possible for a young person with limited experience to achieve a level 3 apprenticeship. In 2018/19 we have seen growth in level 3 Engineering starts in particular for 16 ,17 and 18 year olds. Overall, we continue to see strong take up of standards with 63% of starts so far in 2018/19 on high-quality standards, compared to 44% in 2017/18.</p><p> </p><p>Levels of young people not in education, training or employment are at a record low and apprenticeships play an important role in getting young people into work. We will continue to monitor the impact of our apprenticeship reforms on 16-18 year olds.</p>
answering member constituency Chippenham more like this
answering member printed Michelle Donelan more like this
question first answered
less than 2019-11-04T14:58:40.037Zmore like thismore than 2019-11-04T14:58:40.037Z
answering member
4530
label Biography information for Michelle Donelan more like this
tabling member
465
label Biography information for Gordon Marsden more like this
1167501
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2019-10-30more like thismore than 2019-10-30
answering body
Department for Education more like this
answering dept id 60 more like this
answering dept short name Education more like this
answering dept sort name Education more like this
hansard heading Apprentices: Taxation more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the number of GTA England members that have been unable to access apprenticeship funding since the apprenticeship levy was introduced. more like this
tabling member constituency Blackpool South more like this
tabling member printed
Gordon Marsden more like this
uin 7649 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2019-11-04more like thismore than 2019-11-04
answer text <p>We are committed to ensuring that our reforms to apprenticeships work for smaller employers and their providers, such as group training associations (GTAs).</p><p> </p><p>GTAs are important members of the training provider market, working for groups of employers to provide high quality training. We ran a procurement exercise to secure high-quality training to support small and medium-sized employers from January 2018 to April 2019. This was a highly competitive exercise attracting interest from a wide range of training providers and we recognise that not all providers were successful in the competition. The contracts we awarded have been subsequently extended to April 2020, supported by over £700 million funding for new starts and existing apprentices.</p><p> </p><p>In addition to these contracts, the smaller employers are also able to receive transfers from levy-paying employers, allowing GTAs access to levy-funded training. We have also announced that we will shortly enable levy payers to transfer funds to cover the full cost of training for 16 to 18-year-olds in the smallest businesses with fewer than 50 employers.</p><p> </p><p>Earlier this year, we confirmed that small and medium enterprises (SMEs), who do not pay the apprenticeship levy, would soon be able to access the benefits of using the award-winning apprenticeship service (AS). The AS, already in use by large levy paying employers, will give SMEs greater control over choosing their apprenticeships, a greater range of training providers to engage with, and a new route to access apprenticeship funding.</p><p> </p><p>We announced at the Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) conference on 29 October 2019 that from January we will begin to transition SMEs onto the service, and will be supporting up to an additional 5,000 starts per month from January to March 2020 for employers that don’t pay the levy. We will be issuing more detail on the transition arrangements from November and throughout 2020.</p><p> </p><p>Officials meet regularly with GTA England to discuss training provision, including in respect of apprenticeships. We also work closely with the AELP, the Learning and Work Institute, and the Association of Colleges to consider a range of sectoral issues and to ensure that our apprenticeships reforms continue to work for employers of all sizes, including charities.</p><p> </p>
answering member constituency Chippenham more like this
answering member printed Michelle Donelan more like this
grouped question UIN 7650 more like this
question first answered
less than 2019-11-04T14:40:24.62Zmore like thismore than 2019-11-04T14:40:24.62Z
answering member
4530
label Biography information for Michelle Donelan more like this
tabling member
465
label Biography information for Gordon Marsden more like this