We are pleased that employers are choosing to move to our new, higher quality apprenticeship offer to make a sustainable investment in the skills that they need to grow. Employers are designing higher level apprenticeships that take longer and require more off-the-job training and, while this is something to be welcomed, we are conscious of the challenges it presents.<\/p>
<\/p>
In 2019-20, funding available for investment in apprenticeships in England will be over £2.5 billion, this is double what was spent in 2010-11. The apprenticeship budget is set in advance by Her Majesty\u2019s Treasury for the current spending review period. Currently, we expect to be within budget in the 2018-19 and 2019-20 financial years. We continue to monitor the trend of increasing spending on apprenticeships and to make use of our engagement with employers in addition to all available data from the programme to inform forecasts of demand and future costs.<\/p>
<\/p>
The level of funding for the programme beyond 2020 will be determined by the forthcoming Spending Review announced by my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in his Spring Statement.<\/p>
With growing passenger numbers, the Department wants to see more not fewer staff on the railway. Train operating company employees have increased by 20% from 49,000 to 59,000 between 2010-11 and 2017-18.<\/p> We believe that train operators themselves are best placed to determine how staff are deployed to best to meet the needs of their passengers. We regularly engage with a range of stakeholders such as the Rail Delivery Group who is the custodian of the Passenger Assist reservation scheme to discuss issues that will make the rail network more accessible.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3996", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrew Jones"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Harrogate and Knaresborough"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Andrew Jones"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-04-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-04-09T12:57:46.64Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-04-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Railway Stations: Disability"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has recently (a) sought and (b) received representations on the effect on disabled passengers of de-staffing railway stations.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4269", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andy McDonald"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Middlesbrough"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Andy McDonald"}
], "uin" : "239246"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1108660", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Transport"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1108660/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Inclusive Transport Strategy sets out our ambition to create a transport system that provides equal access for disabled people by 2030. Within the Inclusive Transport Strategy, we have set out our plans to make the rail network more accessible including the commitment to extend the Access for All programme with an additional £300m, which as I announced on 4 April will deliver accessibility improvements at a further 73 stations between 2019 and 2024.<\/p> <\/p> We will monitor the delivery of the rail commitments within the Inclusive Transport Strategy, and evaluate its impact to see what progress has been made towards ensuring the rail network becomes more accessible. Progress is already being made - 75% of rail journeys are now made through step free stations, compared to only 50% in 2005.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4460", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ms Nusrat Ghani"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Wealden"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Ms Nusrat Ghani"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-04-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-04-05T12:47:08.057Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-04-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Railways: Disability"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made a recent assessment of the effect of his rail policies on the level of access to rail transport of disabled passengers; and if he will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4269", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andy McDonald"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Middlesbrough"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Andy McDonald"}
], "uin" : "239247"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1108661", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1108661/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " As part of the Government\u2019s commitment to increase overall investment in R&D to 2.4% of GDP by 2027, which would be the highest recorded level, and 3% in the longer-term. We are building capacity in a number of ways.<\/p> <\/p> For example, we are boosting capacity in artificial intelligence through new AI Masters and AI Centres for Doctoral Training, delivering 1,000 additional PhDs in AI and Turing AI Fellows.<\/p> <\/p> We are also boosting capacity in specific places across the UK, building on R&D strengths through our Strength in Places Fund. Twenty-four ambitious projects from pharmaceuticals to aerospace, and transport to the creative economy, are to receive early-stage funding to develop full-stage bids that could lead to significant economic growth in places across the country.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4021", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Chris Skidmore"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Kingswood"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Chris Skidmore"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-04-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-04-09T10:12:19.963Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-04-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Research: Finance"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to ensure that additional funding for the research and development sector is allocated to building the capacity of that sector.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4398", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Chris Green"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bolton West"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Chris Green"}
], "uin" : "239257"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1108662", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1108662/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Providing better information and support to people bereaved by suicide is a key area for action in the Cross-Government Suicide Prevention Strategy for England, and the NHS Long Term Plan has committed to put in place suicide bereavement support for families and staff working in mental health crisis services in every area of the country.<\/p> <\/p> Relatives may access support for bereavement through Improving Access to Psychological Therapies services. People can either self-refer, or be referred for a clinical assessment of their needs.<\/p> <\/p> Bereavement counselling is available to people at any time, even if the person that someone lost died a long time ago, through their local general practitioner or by self-referring to national Cruse Bereavement Care.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4065", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Jackie Doyle-Price"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Thurrock"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jackie Doyle-Price"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-04-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "previousAnswerVersion" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1108662/answer/previousversion/112743", "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4065", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Jackie Doyle-Price"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Thurrock"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jackie Doyle-Price"}
}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-04-09T11:24:36.153Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-04-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Suicide: Relatives"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department takes to support the close relatives of suicide victims.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1409", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Londonderry"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Gregory Campbell"}
], "uin" : "239188"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1108663", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1108663/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Home Office is committed to making as much data as possible available from the Incident Recording System (IRS) whilst mindful of the personal and sensitive data within it. It has done this through publishing 13 incident level datasets that are available here<\/p>
<\/em><\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1523", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Anne Milton"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Guildford"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Anne Milton"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-04-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "previousAnswerVersion" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1108653/answer/previousversion/112154", "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1523", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Anne Milton"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Guildford"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Anne Milton"}
}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-04-08T10:14:05.703Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-04-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Apprentices"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the conclusions of the National Audit Office\u2019s report of 6 March 2019, The apprenticeships programme, HC 1987 2017-19, what plans he has to address concerns that funding for that programme may be insufficient should there be an increase in demand for apprenticeships.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "true", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4637", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for James Frith"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bury North"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "James Frith"}
], "uin" : "239284"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1108659", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Transport"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1108659/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "