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1386239

	registered interest
	date	08/12/2021
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	University Technical Colleges: Domestic Visits
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which university technical colleges have been visited by Ministers of his Department since 1 January 2020; and what plans he and his Ministers have to visit university technical colleges in the 2021-22 school year.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	89559
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/12/2021 answer text <p>Since 1 January 2020, ministers have undertaken the following visits to University Technical Colleges (UTCs):</p><p>My noble Friend, the former Minister for the School System, Baroness Berridge:</p><ul><li>Virtual visit to the London Design and Engineering UTC – 18 Nov 2020</li><li>Visit to Doncaster UTC and Ron Dearing UTC (Hull) – 13 May 2021</li></ul><p> </p><p>My noble Friend, the Minister for the School System, Baroness Barran:</p><ul><li>Visit to Plymouth UTC – Wed 1 Dec 2021.</li></ul><p> </p><p>Ministers plan to make further visits to UTCs during the current academic year, and these will be confirmed in due course. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, there have been significantly fewer ministerial visits to all types of education settings. Of those that have taken place, many were virtual.</p> answering member constituency Brentwood and Ongar answering member printed Alex Burghart question first answered 16/12/2021 17:13:49 answering member 4613 label Biography information for Alex Burghart
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1466112

	registered interest
	date	26/05/2022
	answering body	Attorney General
	answering dept id	88
	answering dept short name	Attorney General
	answering dept sort name	Attorney General
	hansard heading	Sexual Offences: Prosecutions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Attorney General, what steps she is taking to increase prosecution rates for (a) sexual assault and (b) rape offences.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	900270
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/05/2022 answer text <p>This Government is determined to increase the number of rape and sexual assault cases going to court.</p><p> </p><p>The CPS is undertaking extensive work to drive up and improve prosecutions through its Joint National RASSO Action Plan with the police, the Rape Strategy, and the Operation Soteria Path Finders, which are testing methods for best practice in six CPS Areas.</p><p> </p><p>Since publication of its strategy, the CPS has continued to see increases in the number of rape charges, prosecutions and convictions.</p> answering member constituency Cheltenham answering member printed Alex Chalk question first answered 26/05/2022 15:53:54 answering member 4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1194448

	registered interest
	date	07/05/2020
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Marriage: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans he has to extend the marriage licence while weddings are unable to take place during the covid-19 outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	45140
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/05/2020 answer text <p>The Government understands the frustration couples planning a wedding must be feeling at this time. We are exploring what changes might be possible and realistic in line with Public Health England’s guidance on social distancing. As with all coronavirus restrictions we will look to ease them as soon as it is safe to do so.</p> answering member constituency Cheltenham answering member printed Alex Chalk question first answered 19/05/2020 17:00:17 answering member 4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1180336

	registered interest
	date	25/02/2020
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Ministry of Justice: Civil Society
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much funding she has allocated to civil society and campaigning bodies in each of the last three years.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	20457
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/03/2020 answer text <p>Civil Society forms an essential part of our communities up and down the country. It includes large, national charities, social enterprises, volunteers and small grassroots organisations but what joins them all is the idea of creating social value to help build a better society.</p><p> </p><p>Government funding to civil society is ring-fenced for particular projects or programmes. Grant agreement terms and conditions prohibit grant funding being used for paid for lobbying and political campaigning.</p><p> </p><p>The Cabinet Office publishes grants data on www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-grants-register for all departments. Within that data, the Ministry of Justice grant schemes that may relate to civil society funding are identifiable. We do not pay grants for campaigning activities.</p><p>The data for 2016/17 and 2017/18 has already been published and it is expected that the data relating to 2018/19 will be published by end of March 2020 as part of the Cabinet Office transparency agenda.</p> answering member constituency Cheltenham answering member printed Alex Chalk question first answered 04/03/2020 15:17:20 answering member 4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1521739

	registered interest
	date	13/10/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	T-levels: Harlow
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many people have completed a T Level qualification in Harlow constituency as of 13 October 2022.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	62783
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/10/2022 answer text <p>T Levels are a two year programme and were first taught in a modest number of providers from September 2020. No T Levels were delivered in Harlow constituency in 2020 and so no students there have yet completed a T Level.</p><p>Harlow College has been offering T Levels in the constituency since 2021 and the first students will complete their course in 2023.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Morley and Outwood answering member printed Andrea Jenkyns question first answered 20/10/2022 15:51:01 answering member 4490 label Biography information for Dame Andrea Jenkyns
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1521740

	registered interest
	date	13/10/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	T-levels: Harlow
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many people are enrolled on a T Level qualification in Harlow constituency.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	62784
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/10/2022 answer text <p>There were 106 students funded for T Levels in the 2021/22 academic year at Harlow College, the only provider offering T Levels in the constituency in 2021. The department has not published any figures for T Level student numbers in the 2022/23 academic year. We would expect to publish figures at institution level in spring 2023.</p> answering member constituency Morley and Outwood answering member printed Andrea Jenkyns question first answered 24/10/2022 16:18:34 answering member 4490 label Biography information for Dame Andrea Jenkyns
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1521742

	registered interest
	date	13/10/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	T-levels
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the conclusions of the Education Select Committee on the availability of industry placements to support T Level qualifications.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	62785
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/10/2022 answer text <p>The department will consider any recommendations that come out of the Education Select Committee’s review. We will continue to listen to key stakeholders to ensure high-quality industry placements can be delivered, in all subjects, throughout England.</p><p>The department has invested more than £200 million over the past 4 years to help T Level providers build their capacity for placements and develop relationships with local employers. We have put in place bespoke support for both providers and employers which includes direct, hands-on support. We also have a T Level Ambassador Network that is continuing to recruit T Level advocates across key industries to inspire engagement in the T Level programme.</p> answering member constituency Morley and Outwood answering member printed Andrea Jenkyns question first answered 20/10/2022 14:54:42 answering member 4490 label Biography information for Dame Andrea Jenkyns
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

65863

	registered interest
	date	04/07/2014
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
	hansard heading	Apprentices
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many apprentices have been employed by contractors and sub-contractors to his Department in each year since 2010-11; and what proportion of the total workforce of such contractors is made up by apprentices.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	204067
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/07/2014 answer text <p>The information requested is not held centrally. To provide it would involve contacting numerous current and former suppliers. This could only be done at disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency South Northamptonshire answering member printed Andrea Leadsom question first answered 15/07/2014 14:35:04 answering member 4117 label Biography information for Andrea Leadsom
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

855954

	registered interest
	date	06/03/2018
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Toys R Us: Insolvency
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps the Government is taking to support employees of ToysRUs as a result of its entering administration.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	131120
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/03/2018 answer text <p>I refer my right hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 6th March 2018 to Question <a href="http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2018-03-01/130654/" target="_blank">130654</a>.</p> answering member constituency Burton answering member printed Andrew Griffiths question first answered 13/03/2018 16:25:15 answering member 3936 label Biography information for Andrew Griffiths
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

852658

	registered interest
	date	01/03/2018
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Maplin and Toys R Us: Insolvency
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans he has to support employees of ToysRUs and Maplin.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	130654
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/03/2018 answer text <p>We have mobilised the Department for Work and Pensions and Jobcentre Plus to work with the companies to understand the level of employee support required. This service is tailored to individuals’ needs to help these workers get back into employment as soon as possible.</p><p>If redundancies are deemed necessary by the administrators, the Insolvency Service’s Redundancy Payments Service will pay statutory redundancy pay to eligible employees, subject to statutory limits.</p> answering member constituency Burton answering member printed Andrew Griffiths question first answered 06/03/2018 15:39:34 answering member 3936 label Biography information for Andrew Griffiths
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

782641

	registered interest
	date	02/11/2017
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
	hansard heading	Fuels: Excise Duties
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much has been raised from fuel duty in each year since 2010.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	111101
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/11/2017 answer text <p>Fuel duty receipts statistics are available in HMRC’s Hydrocarbon Oils bulletin (see link below). This includes a breakdown of receipts by the main fuel types.</p><p><a href="https://www.uktradeinfo.com/Statistics/Tax%20and%20Duty%20Bulletins/Oils0817.xls" target="_blank">https://www.uktradeinfo.com/Statistics/Tax and Duty Bulletins/Oils0817.xls</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Harrogate and Knaresborough answering member printed Andrew Jones question first answered 08/11/2017 12:43:55 answering member 3996 label Biography information for Andrew Jones
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1224982

	registered interest
	date	15/07/2020
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Department for Transport: Apprentices
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to meet the public sector apprenticeship target.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	74506
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/07/2020 answer text <p>The Department remains fully committed to the Government’s apprenticeship agenda and is actively encouraging both the recruitment of apprentices externally, through proactive outreach and the utilisation of apprenticeships to develop internal capability and strengthen talent pipelines.</p><p> </p><p>Due to the diverse work of the department, DfT core and each of its executive agencies (DfT Group) have developed localised strategies to support ongoing work against public-sector apprenticeship targets, and improve the overall quality of the apprentice experience.</p><p> </p><p>For mainstream recruitment, we have embedded a process standard across DfT Group requiring vacancy holders to consider recruiting apprentices as the default resourcing option to fill vacant roles. This is alongside work with the policy, HR, project delivery, finance and other technical operational professions to actively encourage apprenticeship uptake to support skills and capability growth and talent retention.</p><p> </p><p>From Autumn 2020 we plan to move to volume-based recruitment and apprenticeship management. Alongside this, we will continue to focus on developing our corporate support offer for apprentices and their line-managers, and strengthening supplier engagement to drive quality of provision.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Pendle answering member printed Andrew Stephenson question first answered 20/07/2020 14:14:55 answering member 4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1130384

	registered interest
	date	06/06/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Apprentices
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has made an assessment of the effect on the impartiality of Ofsted of that organisation being responsible for the inspection of the quality of apprenticeships.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	261188
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/06/2019 answer text <p>Ofsted is a non-ministerial department, which reports directly to Parliament. It inspects services providing education and skills for learners of all ages and inspects and regulates services that care for children and young people. Its role is to make sure that organisations providing education, training and care services in England for children and students do so to a high standard. Ofsted inspects a range of provider types and different types of provision, including apprenticeships. It does so impartially, as an independent body.</p><p>For more information on how Ofsted inspects apprenticeships, please see the current Further Education and Skills Inspection Handbook here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/further-education-and-skills-inspection-handbook" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/further-education-and-skills-inspection-handbook</a> An updated version of the Handbook, released under the new Education Inspection Framework, is due to take effect from September 2019 and can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/further-education-and-skills-inspection-handbook-eif" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/further-education-and-skills-inspection-handbook-eif</a></p> answering member constituency Guildford answering member printed Anne Milton question first answered 13/06/2019 13:17:14 answering member 1523 label Biography information for Anne Milton
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1063765

	registered interest
	date	18/02/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Schools: Private Education
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of independent schools in England do not meet his Department's independent school standards.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	222700
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/02/2019 answer text <p>It is not possible to say how many independent schools are not meeting the standards at any one time. Meeting the standards is a condition of continued registration as an independent school, but the principal means of ascertaining compliance is through the inspection system.</p><p>Independent schools are normally inspected every 3 years and more often if they have been found not to be meeting the standards, until they improve. Therefore, at any one time, a particular school may be awaiting inspection and may or may not be meeting the standards or be under regulatory action and in the process of achieving compliance once again.</p><p>A statement on the regulation of independent schools is published at:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulating-independent-schools" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulating-independent-schools</a>.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Guildford answering member printed Anne Milton question first answered 21/02/2019 17:54:35 answering member 1523 label Biography information for Anne Milton
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1061264

	registered interest
	date	14/02/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Department for Education: Apprentices
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many apprentices are employed in his Department.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	221748
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/02/2019 answer text <p>As of 31 January 2019, the Department for Education employed 209 apprentices.</p> answering member constituency Guildford answering member printed Anne Milton question first answered 22/02/2019 10:09:32 answering member 1523 label Biography information for Anne Milton
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1054028

	registered interest
	date	04/02/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Vocational Education
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	What steps he is taking to ensure that (a) academies and (b) local authority maintained schools comply with section 2 of the Further Education and Technical Act 2017; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	908969
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/02/2019 answer text <p>Inviting providers of technical education into schools is vital to give all pupils a full picture of their options. We are writing to local authorities to make sure that schools comply.</p><p>We have written to the largest multi academy trusts currently not meeting the duty, reminding them what is required, and will take further action if we have evidence schools are still not complying.</p> answering member constituency Guildford answering member printed Anne Milton question first answered 04/02/2019 17:29:03 answering member 1523 label Biography information for Anne Milton
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1039013

	registered interest
	date	10/01/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Apprentices: Taxation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to his oral contribution of 17 December 2018, Official Report Column 509, if he will place in the Library a copy of the 30 November 2018 presentation by the Institute for Apprenticeships at Exeter College citing the projected £500 million overspend on the apprenticeship levy budget.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	207232
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/01/2019 answer text <p>The Institute for Apprenticeships (IfA) is a non-departmental public body, independent of government. The IfA are considering whether it would be appropriate to publish the presentation given at Exeter College on 30 November 2018.</p> answering member constituency Guildford answering member printed Anne Milton question first answered 15/01/2019 18:00:13 answering member 1523 label Biography information for Anne Milton
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1039014

	registered interest
	date	10/01/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Apprentices: Finance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2018 to Question 202058 on apprentices: finance, by what means his Department controls expenditure in a demand-led apprenticeship programme; and what steps his Department is taking to prevent an overspend in each of the next three years.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	207233
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/01/2019 answer text <p>The departmental budget for spending on apprenticeships in England from 2015-16 to 2019-20 was set initially in the 2015 Spending Review, based on forecast demand and considering factors such as historical start levels.</p><p>Funding bands set the maximum that government will contribute towards the training and assessment costs of an individual apprenticeship and are set to achieve high-quality delivery while securing value for money. The Institute for Apprenticeships makes regular recommendations on the pricing of standards, and in 2018 we introduced additional funding bands to ensure that all standards are funded at the appropriate level.</p><p>We also set the amount of funding available for supporting non-levy payers, which is delivered through contracts with training providers: currently government pays 90% of training and assessment costs and 100% for the smallest employers who take on 16 to 18 year olds. We have awarded funding totalling more than £500 million to providers across the country between January 2018 and March 2019. This  includes more than £70 million growth funding.</p><p>We constantly monitor levels of spend and forecast demand and consider the overall budget position, including as part of the wider departmental position.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Guildford answering member printed Anne Milton question first answered 15/01/2019 16:46:36 answering member 1523 label Biography information for Anne Milton
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1038494

	registered interest
	date	09/01/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Schools: Vocational Education
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what sanctions are available to (a) Ofsted, (b) Regional Schools Commissioners and (c) his Department to ensure that schools comply with section 2 of the Further Education and Technical Act 2017.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	206808
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/01/2019 answer text <p>Section 2 of the Technical and Further Education Act (2017), often referred to as the ‘Baker Clause’, requires all maintained schools and academies to make sure that there is an opportunity for a range of education and training providers to meet pupils in year 8 to year 13 for the purpose of informing them about approved technical education qualifications or apprenticeships.</p><p>We introduced the ‘Baker Clause’ in January 2018 and published statutory guidance on careers guidance and on access for education and training providers which explains what schools must do to comply with this law. This is available at the following link: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/careers-guidance-provision-for-young-people-in-schools" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/careers-guidance-provision-for-young-people-in-schools</a>.</p><p>In the event of suspected non-compliance with the duty and statutory guidance, our approach is for the parties involved to try to resolve the matter locally. This might include Regional Schools Commissioners or local authorities discussing and addressing any barriers to compliance with multi-academy trusts, individual academies or maintained schools.</p><p>If the department finds fault with a school’s policies following a complaint, then remedial action could be taken. This could include an official or a minister from the department writing to the school and, ultimately, the possibility of the Secretary of State using intervention powers.</p><p>Regarding Ofsted, this is a matter for Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Amanda Spielman. I have asked her to write to the right hon. Member and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.</p> answering member constituency Guildford answering member printed Anne Milton question first answered 16/01/2019 11:30:33 answering member 1523 label Biography information for Anne Milton
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1024699

	registered interest
	date	13/12/2018
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Apprentices: Finance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, by how much the apprenticeship budget is set to be overspent in the academic year (a) 2018-19 and (b) 2019-20.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	202058
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/12/2018 answer text <p>By 2019/20, the funding available for apprenticeships in England will have risen to over £2.5 billion, which is more than double what it was in 2010, including the additional £115 million confirmed in this year’s budget.</p><p>Spending on the apprenticeship programme is demand-led. Therefore, employers can choose which apprenticeships they offer, the level of the apprenticeships and when they offer the apprenticeships. Furthermore, levy payers have two years to spend the funds available to them. For the 2018-19 and 2019-20 financial years, the fully audited accounts are due to be published following the end of the respective financial year.</p> answering member constituency Guildford answering member printed Anne Milton question first answered 18/12/2018 18:25:29 answering member 1523 label Biography information for Anne Milton
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

993627

	registered interest
	date	23/10/2018
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Apprentices: Minimum Wage
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what enforcement procedures have been put in place in England to ensure that apprenticeship providers pay their apprentices the National Minimum Wage.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	182745
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/10/2018 answer text <p>Enforcement of all minimum wages, including the National Minimum Wage (NMW) for apprentices, is the responsibility of Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC).</p><p>In the period 2017 to 2018, HMRC identified a record £15.6 million in total arrears owed to 200,000 workers who were underpaid the minimum wages and issued £14 million in penalties. HMRC continues to investigate 100% of complaints received from workers in respect of minimum wage law.</p><p>The government’s naming scheme, which was introduced in 2013, provides HMRC with the power to publicly name employers who fail to pay minimum wages. 1,900 businesses have already been named. Between them, these businesses owed workers total arrears of more than £11 million. Apprentices are distinguished separately.</p><p>Each new apprentice on a government-funded apprenticeship receives a letter from the Minister of State for Apprenticeships and Skills which sets out what they can expect from their apprenticeship. This letter includes information on apprentices’ entitlement to the NMW.</p><p>The Education and Skills Funding Agency’s Find an Apprenticeship service also has built-in automated checks to ensure that no apprenticeship vacancy can be advertised with a wage rate below the NMW level. An employer would not be able to submit a vacancy to Find an Apprenticeship until the NMW requirements are met.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Guildford answering member printed Anne Milton question first answered 31/10/2018 15:48:46 answering member 1523 label Biography information for Anne Milton
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

964637

	registered interest
	date	03/09/2018
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Apprentices
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the Government still has a target of three million apprentices by 2020.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	169297
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/09/2018 answer text <p>In 2015 we set an ambitious goal of three million apprenticeship starts by 2020, and that remains our ambition.</p><p>Whilst we want to see an increased number of apprenticeships starts we will not sacrifice quality for quantity. It is important that all apprenticeships are of the highest quality - delivering the skills valued by employers that will increase productivity and help stimulate growth.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Guildford answering member printed Anne Milton question first answered 11/09/2018 07:04:38 answering member 1523 label Biography information for Anne Milton
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

964638

	registered interest
	date	03/09/2018
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Apprentices: Finance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much money the Government has invested in apprenticeships so far; and how much money the Government plans to have invested in apprenticeship by 2020.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	169298
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/09/2018 answer text <p>The table below sets out participation spending for the apprenticeship programme for the period 2012-2018, the only years for which comparable figures are available. This is the sum spent by providers of training on delivery, and does not include other costs of the programme:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Financial Year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2012-13</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2013-14</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2014-15</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2015-16</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2016-17</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2017-18</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Total spend £(millions)</strong></p></td><td><p>1,461</p></td><td><p>1,459</p></td><td><p>1,551</p></td><td><p>1,540</p></td><td><p>1,632</p></td><td><p>1,559</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>The total budget for the apprenticeship programme in 2019-20 is £2.45 billion.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Guildford answering member printed Anne Milton grouped question UIN 169299 question first answered 11/09/2018 16:47:17 answering member 1523 label Biography information for Anne Milton
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

964639

	registered interest
	date	03/09/2018
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Apprentices: Finance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the government still plans to invest £2.5 billion in apprenticeships by 2020.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	169299
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/09/2018 answer text <p>The table below sets out participation spending for the apprenticeship programme for the period 2012-2018, the only years for which comparable figures are available. This is the sum spent by providers of training on delivery, and does not include other costs of the programme:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Financial Year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2012-13</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2013-14</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2014-15</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2015-16</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2016-17</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2017-18</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Total spend £(millions)</strong></p></td><td><p>1,461</p></td><td><p>1,459</p></td><td><p>1,551</p></td><td><p>1,540</p></td><td><p>1,632</p></td><td><p>1,559</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>The total budget for the apprenticeship programme in 2019-20 is £2.45 billion.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Guildford answering member printed Anne Milton grouped question UIN 169298 question first answered 11/09/2018 16:47:17 answering member 1523 label Biography information for Anne Milton
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

938484

	registered interest
	date	11/07/2018
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Pupil Exclusions: Employment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to improve the accessibility of routes to employment for pupils who have been excluded from school.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	163075
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/07/2018 answer text <p>There are duties in place to make sure that suitable, full time alternative provision (AP) is available for children of compulsory school age who have been excluded for a fixed period or permanently. Local authorities are responsible for making sure that provision meets the needs of young people in their area. This includes identifying 16 to 19 year olds who are not in education, employment or training, such as those excluded from school, and providing the help they need to participate and progress.</p><p>The department is raising the proportion of young people leaving AP to engage in education, employment and training. A high proportion of these students will have special educational needs and/or a disability and through the Children and Families Act 2014 we have put in place support to help these students to succeed alongside their peers. Young people also have access to a range of support and guidance, including the 16-19 Bursary Fund to assist with the costs associated with staying in post-16 further education and Access to Work funding to support apprentices who are disabled or have a physical or mental health condition.</p><p>In March 2018, the government published its vision for AP, including a plan for improving the support it offers to young people. We will continue to engage with AP and post-16 providers to identify and share new ways of helping young people make the transition into post-16 settings and adult life. We have commissioned primary research into the recent experiences of children, schools, AP and post-16 providers regarding this transition. We are also in the process of assessing bids from organisations who have applied to the AP Innovation Fund to design and test new approaches to improve outcomes for young people leaving AP at age 16.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Guildford answering member printed Anne Milton question first answered 19/07/2018 17:44:21 answering member 1523 label Biography information for Anne Milton
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon