The below Parliamentary question was asked by Peter Kyle on 2016-02-29.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many hours were logged as lost by officials in her Department due to delayed rail transportation in 2015.
Karen Bradley
We do not hold records centrally on the number of hours logged as lost due to delayed rail transportation across the Home Office.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Peter Kyle on 2016-04-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 23 November 2015 to Question 16350, whether (a) professional and vocational training and (b) other alternative forms of digital skills development will be supported by the apprenticeship levy.
Nick Boles
Employers will be free to spend their money on apprenticeship training which they judge best meets their needs. This could be on approved in-house apprenticeship training, or apprenticeship training offered by another registered provider of their choice.
We want to give employers in England flexibility on how they use levy funds without introducing additional and unintended complexity into the system.
Apprenticeships are available in a wide range of sectors and at all levels including degree level. There are new apprenticeship standards in digital industries occupations such as Network Engineer, Software Developer, and Digital & Technology Solutions Professional (degree apprenticeship).
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Peter Kyle on 2016-04-28.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will set a target for apprenticeship completion rates by the end of this Parliament.
Nick Boles
Apprenticeship completions are monitored closely by the Skills Funding Agency. There are minimum levels of performance for individual providers.
We have already taken action to increase the quality of apprenticeships; including introducing a minimum duration and ensuring that all apprenticeships are real jobs. We are continuing to go further by giving employers the opportunity to design rigorous new apprenticeships with end point assessments and by establishing the Institute for Apprenticeships.
We will continue to focus on quality as much as on quantity, but do not intend to set a separate target for apprenticeship completion rates.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Peter Kyle on 2016-09-06.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many flights (a) Ministers and (b) officials of his Department have taken as part of their official duties since his Department was set up on 14 July 2016.
Mark Garnier
As part of their official duties, since 14 July 2016, Ministers have taken 22 flights overseas and accompanying officials have taken 25 flights overseas.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Peter Kyle on 2015-10-22.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, when her Department plans to publish its response to its consultation on feed-in tariffs.
Andrea Leadsom
DECC is aiming to publish its response to this consultation later this year.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Peter Kyle on 2015-10-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many 19 to 24 year olds who already had a Level 3 qualification on the regulated qualifications framework started a Level 2 apprenticeship framework in 2013-14.
Nick Boles
Information on 19 to 24 years olds who completed a Level 3 qualification on the Regulated Qualifications Framework prior to starting a Level 2 Apprenticeship in 2013/14 is not available.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Peter Kyle on 2015-10-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when his Department plans to appoint the consultant for the London and South Coast rail corridor study.
Claire Perry
The Department appointed the consultant for the London and South Coast Rail Corridor Study in September. In October, the Government published the Study Terms of Reference on its website. Ministers anticipate receiving the findings by the end of 2015.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Peter Kyle on 2015-10-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he expects the London and South Coast rail corridor study to be published.
Claire Perry
The Department anticipates receiving the findings of the London and South Coast Rail Corridor Study by the end of 2015. The Government will subsequently consider the timeframe for releasing the study findings, including our response.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Peter Kyle on 2015-10-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many people completed more than one apprenticeship at the same qualification level between May 2010 and May 2015.
Nick Boles
Individuals who have successfully completed an Apprenticeship are not normally allowed to repeat an Apprenticeship at the same Level. A recent piece of research focusing on value added post learning shows that of the 280,000 people with a Level 2 Apprenticeship as their highest qualification held between 2004/2005 to 2010/2011, 8,000 (3 per cent) had previously achieved a Level 2 Apprenticeship in the same period. And of the 233,000 people with a Level 3 Apprenticeship as their highest qualification held between 2004/2005 to 2010/2011, 5,000 (2 per cent) had previously achieved a Level 3 Apprenticeship in the same period.
Funding for Apprenticeships is managed by the Skills Funding Agency through funding rules. These rules state that Apprentices who have successfully completed an Apprenticeship at any level are not expected to start a second Apprenticeship at the same or lower level. Apprentices will be expected to progress to a higher level.
In general, to receive funding for an Apprenticeship, the training provider and SFA must be satisfied that, for all Apprentices, this is the most appropriate learning programme and that they are carrying out a new job role or an existing job role where the individual needs significant new knowledge and skills. If an individual changes jobs, remaining in the same sector or changing sector, and fulfils these criteria, funding is available for an Apprenticeship.
In certain circumstances, Apprentices may need to be multi-skilled. In this case, the SFA will fund an Apprenticeship at the same or lower level if the Apprenticeship is supporting the Apprentice in an extended job role.
However, individuals who have a prior qualification at Level 4 or above are only eligible for funding for a Higher Apprenticeship at Level 5 or above. They are not eligible for funding for an Intermediate Level (Level 2), Advanced Level (Level 3) or Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship, even if they change their job role or the sector they work in.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Peter Kyle on 2015-10-19.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress has been made on the feasibility study into the Brighton Main Line 2 proposals announced as part of the Summer Budget 2015 on 8 July 2015.
Greg Hands
Last week, the government published the terms of reference of the London-South Coast Rail Corridor Study. This will consider the case for investment in existing and new capacity on this important corridor, including the feasibility of a second Brighton Main line, and will recommend priorities in the short, medium and long term.