Written questions by McMurdock.

With reference to his Department’s press release entitled Major employment drive to help unlock 200,000 new jobs and apprenticeships for next generation, published on 16 March 2026, whether employers will be required to retain employees hired through the Youth Jobs Grant for a minimum period.

This Government will not leave an entire generation of young people behind. For many years our young people have not had the opportunity and support they deserve. Under the last government, between 2021 and 2024, the number of young people not in education, employment or training increased by 250,000. That is why this Government is investing in young people’s futures. On 16 March we announced a further £1 billion investment in young people, taking the total investment to £2.5 billion over the next three years though the Youth Guarantee and additional investment in the Growth and Skills Levy. This investment will support almost one million young people and create up to 500,000 opportunities to earn and learn. This includes the delivery of eight Youth Guarantee Trailblazers in England, expansion of Youth Hubs to more than 360 areas across Great Britain and introduction of a new Youth Guarantee Gateway in Jobcentres. The Gateway will provide 16-24-year-olds on Universal Credit a dedicated session and follow-up support to help them move into work, training or education. This investment will also create around 300,000 more opportunities to gain workplace experience and training, including up to 150,000 work experience placements and up to 145,000 employer designed training opportunities, such as Sector based Work Academy Programmes, which offer participants a guaranteed job interview at the end. In addition, the Government is taking action to support employers to recruit and train young people, helping to unlock up to 200,000 more employment opportunities. This includes a new £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant for employers who hire 18–24-year-olds who have been on Universal Credit for over six months, a new £2,000 apprenticeship incentive for small and medium sized employers hiring 16–24-year-olds, and the Jobs Guarantee scheme, providing long-term unemployed 18–24-year-olds with a fully funded six-month job. The Youth Jobs Grant is specifically targeted at young people because of the risk of lifelong scarring impacts of extended unemployment at a young age and to support this Government’s commitment to reducing the number of young people not in education, employment or training. It does not place additional requirements on employers’ wider workforce decisions, which remain governed by existing employment law. We followed standard process in assessing equalities impacts, including on the basis of age, to inform Ministerial decisions on the policy. There remains a range of wider employment programmes in place to support adults of all ages into work. The Youth Jobs Grant is also designed to support employers in hiring eligible young people who have been out of work for six months. The scheme will not require employers to demonstrate that roles are additional. Its purpose is to reduce the barriers young people face when entering the labour market by helping employers with the early costs of recruitment and training, rather than placing conditions on wider staffing decisions and how long an employer must retain someone. It is available to any registered employer across Great Britain who hires an eligible young person. To receive the Grant, the employer must take on a young person aged 18 to 24 who has been on Universal Credit for six months or more. The Grant will be paid in staged instalments after the employment relationship has started, which will encourage sustained employment during the early months without requiring a formal retention period. We expect several thousand employers across Great Britain to make use of the Youth Jobs Grant over the next three years. The scheme is designed to support up to 60,000 opportunities for young people and we expect take-up will vary by sector and region depending on employers’ hiring needs. The Grant is open to organisations of all sizes. Further practical details on how employers will claim the Youth Jobs Grant will be set out in guidance ahead of the scheme launching in June 2026. To support 50,000 more young people into apprenticeships, we are expanding foundation apprenticeships into hospitality and retail, launching a new level 2 administrative assistant apprenticeship for young people from August, and introducing a new incentive of up to £2,000 for SMEs which take on 16–24-year-old apprentices as new employees. The incentive will apply to apprenticeship starts from October 2026, as long as they have joined their employer within the past 3 months i.e. from July 2026. Investment into Youth Guarantee and additional investment in the Growth and Skills Levy demonstrate the Government’s commitment to backing young people, supporting employers, and working with partners across Great Britain to create clear pathways into employment and education for young people. We will continue to monitor the impact of these measures and will report the outcomes to Parliament as necessary.

With reference to his Department’s press release entitled Major employment drive to help unlock 200,000 new jobs and apprenticeships for next generation, published on 16 March 2026, what steps his Department plans to take to help ensure that jobs created through the Youth Jobs Grant are additional to existing positions.

This Government will not leave an entire generation of young people behind. For many years our young people have not had the opportunity and support they deserve. Under the last government, between 2021 and 2024, the number of young people not in education, employment or training increased by 250,000. That is why this Government is investing in young people’s futures. On 16 March we announced a further £1 billion investment in young people, taking the total investment to £2.5 billion over the next three years though the Youth Guarantee and additional investment in the Growth and Skills Levy. This investment will support almost one million young people and create up to 500,000 opportunities to earn and learn. This includes the delivery of eight Youth Guarantee Trailblazers in England, expansion of Youth Hubs to more than 360 areas across Great Britain and introduction of a new Youth Guarantee Gateway in Jobcentres. The Gateway will provide 16-24-year-olds on Universal Credit a dedicated session and follow-up support to help them move into work, training or education. This investment will also create around 300,000 more opportunities to gain workplace experience and training, including up to 150,000 work experience placements and up to 145,000 employer designed training opportunities, such as Sector based Work Academy Programmes, which offer participants a guaranteed job interview at the end. In addition, the Government is taking action to support employers to recruit and train young people, helping to unlock up to 200,000 more employment opportunities. This includes a new £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant for employers who hire 18–24-year-olds who have been on Universal Credit for over six months, a new £2,000 apprenticeship incentive for small and medium sized employers hiring 16–24-year-olds, and the Jobs Guarantee scheme, providing long-term unemployed 18–24-year-olds with a fully funded six-month job. The Youth Jobs Grant is specifically targeted at young people because of the risk of lifelong scarring impacts of extended unemployment at a young age and to support this Government’s commitment to reducing the number of young people not in education, employment or training. It does not place additional requirements on employers’ wider workforce decisions, which remain governed by existing employment law. We followed standard process in assessing equalities impacts, including on the basis of age, to inform Ministerial decisions on the policy. There remains a range of wider employment programmes in place to support adults of all ages into work. The Youth Jobs Grant is also designed to support employers in hiring eligible young people who have been out of work for six months. The scheme will not require employers to demonstrate that roles are additional. Its purpose is to reduce the barriers young people face when entering the labour market by helping employers with the early costs of recruitment and training, rather than placing conditions on wider staffing decisions and how long an employer must retain someone. It is available to any registered employer across Great Britain who hires an eligible young person. To receive the Grant, the employer must take on a young person aged 18 to 24 who has been on Universal Credit for six months or more. The Grant will be paid in staged instalments after the employment relationship has started, which will encourage sustained employment during the early months without requiring a formal retention period. We expect several thousand employers across Great Britain to make use of the Youth Jobs Grant over the next three years. The scheme is designed to support up to 60,000 opportunities for young people and we expect take-up will vary by sector and region depending on employers’ hiring needs. The Grant is open to organisations of all sizes. Further practical details on how employers will claim the Youth Jobs Grant will be set out in guidance ahead of the scheme launching in June 2026. To support 50,000 more young people into apprenticeships, we are expanding foundation apprenticeships into hospitality and retail, launching a new level 2 administrative assistant apprenticeship for young people from August, and introducing a new incentive of up to £2,000 for SMEs which take on 16–24-year-old apprentices as new employees. The incentive will apply to apprenticeship starts from October 2026, as long as they have joined their employer within the past 3 months i.e. from July 2026. Investment into Youth Guarantee and additional investment in the Growth and Skills Levy demonstrate the Government’s commitment to backing young people, supporting employers, and working with partners across Great Britain to create clear pathways into employment and education for young people. We will continue to monitor the impact of these measures and will report the outcomes to Parliament as necessary.

With reference to his Department’s press release entitled Major employment drive to help unlock 200,000 new jobs and apprenticeships for next generation, published on 16 March 2026, what factors will determine whether employers can receive the maximum £2,000 subsidy to support 16-21 year-olds into work.

This Government will not leave an entire generation of young people behind. For many years our young people have not had the opportunity and support they deserve. Under the last government, between 2021 and 2024, the number of young people not in education, employment or training increased by 250,000. That is why this Government is investing in young people’s futures. On 16 March we announced a further £1 billion investment in young people, taking the total investment to £2.5 billion over the next three years though the Youth Guarantee and additional investment in the Growth and Skills Levy. This investment will support almost one million young people and create up to 500,000 opportunities to earn and learn. This includes the delivery of eight Youth Guarantee Trailblazers in England, expansion of Youth Hubs to more than 360 areas across Great Britain and introduction of a new Youth Guarantee Gateway in Jobcentres. The Gateway will provide 16-24-year-olds on Universal Credit a dedicated session and follow-up support to help them move into work, training or education. This investment will also create around 300,000 more opportunities to gain workplace experience and training, including up to 150,000 work experience placements and up to 145,000 employer designed training opportunities, such as Sector based Work Academy Programmes, which offer participants a guaranteed job interview at the end. In addition, the Government is taking action to support employers to recruit and train young people, helping to unlock up to 200,000 more employment opportunities. This includes a new £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant for employers who hire 18–24-year-olds who have been on Universal Credit for over six months, a new £2,000 apprenticeship incentive for small and medium sized employers hiring 16–24-year-olds, and the Jobs Guarantee scheme, providing long-term unemployed 18–24-year-olds with a fully funded six-month job. The Youth Jobs Grant is specifically targeted at young people because of the risk of lifelong scarring impacts of extended unemployment at a young age and to support this Government’s commitment to reducing the number of young people not in education, employment or training. It does not place additional requirements on employers’ wider workforce decisions, which remain governed by existing employment law. We followed standard process in assessing equalities impacts, including on the basis of age, to inform Ministerial decisions on the policy. There remains a range of wider employment programmes in place to support adults of all ages into work. The Youth Jobs Grant is also designed to support employers in hiring eligible young people who have been out of work for six months. The scheme will not require employers to demonstrate that roles are additional. Its purpose is to reduce the barriers young people face when entering the labour market by helping employers with the early costs of recruitment and training, rather than placing conditions on wider staffing decisions and how long an employer must retain someone. It is available to any registered employer across Great Britain who hires an eligible young person. To receive the Grant, the employer must take on a young person aged 18 to 24 who has been on Universal Credit for six months or more. The Grant will be paid in staged instalments after the employment relationship has started, which will encourage sustained employment during the early months without requiring a formal retention period. We expect several thousand employers across Great Britain to make use of the Youth Jobs Grant over the next three years. The scheme is designed to support up to 60,000 opportunities for young people and we expect take-up will vary by sector and region depending on employers’ hiring needs. The Grant is open to organisations of all sizes. Further practical details on how employers will claim the Youth Jobs Grant will be set out in guidance ahead of the scheme launching in June 2026. To support 50,000 more young people into apprenticeships, we are expanding foundation apprenticeships into hospitality and retail, launching a new level 2 administrative assistant apprenticeship for young people from August, and introducing a new incentive of up to £2,000 for SMEs which take on 16–24-year-old apprentices as new employees. The incentive will apply to apprenticeship starts from October 2026, as long as they have joined their employer within the past 3 months i.e. from July 2026. Investment into Youth Guarantee and additional investment in the Growth and Skills Levy demonstrate the Government’s commitment to backing young people, supporting employers, and working with partners across Great Britain to create clear pathways into employment and education for young people. We will continue to monitor the impact of these measures and will report the outcomes to Parliament as necessary.

With reference to his Department’s press release entitled Major employment drive to help unlock 200,000 new jobs and apprenticeships for next generation, published on 16 March 2026, what eligibility criteria employers must meet to receive the £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant for hiring young people aged 18–24.

This Government will not leave an entire generation of young people behind. For many years our young people have not had the opportunity and support they deserve. Under the last government, between 2021 and 2024, the number of young people not in education, employment or training increased by 250,000. That is why this Government is investing in young people’s futures. On 16 March we announced a further £1 billion investment in young people, taking the total investment to £2.5 billion over the next three years though the Youth Guarantee and additional investment in the Growth and Skills Levy. This investment will support almost one million young people and create up to 500,000 opportunities to earn and learn. This includes the delivery of eight Youth Guarantee Trailblazers in England, expansion of Youth Hubs to more than 360 areas across Great Britain and introduction of a new Youth Guarantee Gateway in Jobcentres. The Gateway will provide 16-24-year-olds on Universal Credit a dedicated session and follow-up support to help them move into work, training or education. This investment will also create around 300,000 more opportunities to gain workplace experience and training, including up to 150,000 work experience placements and up to 145,000 employer designed training opportunities, such as Sector based Work Academy Programmes, which offer participants a guaranteed job interview at the end. In addition, the Government is taking action to support employers to recruit and train young people, helping to unlock up to 200,000 more employment opportunities. This includes a new £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant for employers who hire 18–24-year-olds who have been on Universal Credit for over six months, a new £2,000 apprenticeship incentive for small and medium sized employers hiring 16–24-year-olds, and the Jobs Guarantee scheme, providing long-term unemployed 18–24-year-olds with a fully funded six-month job. The Youth Jobs Grant is specifically targeted at young people because of the risk of lifelong scarring impacts of extended unemployment at a young age and to support this Government’s commitment to reducing the number of young people not in education, employment or training. It does not place additional requirements on employers’ wider workforce decisions, which remain governed by existing employment law. We followed standard process in assessing equalities impacts, including on the basis of age, to inform Ministerial decisions on the policy. There remains a range of wider employment programmes in place to support adults of all ages into work. The Youth Jobs Grant is also designed to support employers in hiring eligible young people who have been out of work for six months. The scheme will not require employers to demonstrate that roles are additional. Its purpose is to reduce the barriers young people face when entering the labour market by helping employers with the early costs of recruitment and training, rather than placing conditions on wider staffing decisions and how long an employer must retain someone. It is available to any registered employer across Great Britain who hires an eligible young person. To receive the Grant, the employer must take on a young person aged 18 to 24 who has been on Universal Credit for six months or more. The Grant will be paid in staged instalments after the employment relationship has started, which will encourage sustained employment during the early months without requiring a formal retention period. We expect several thousand employers across Great Britain to make use of the Youth Jobs Grant over the next three years. The scheme is designed to support up to 60,000 opportunities for young people and we expect take-up will vary by sector and region depending on employers’ hiring needs. The Grant is open to organisations of all sizes. Further practical details on how employers will claim the Youth Jobs Grant will be set out in guidance ahead of the scheme launching in June 2026. To support 50,000 more young people into apprenticeships, we are expanding foundation apprenticeships into hospitality and retail, launching a new level 2 administrative assistant apprenticeship for young people from August, and introducing a new incentive of up to £2,000 for SMEs which take on 16–24-year-old apprentices as new employees. The incentive will apply to apprenticeship starts from October 2026, as long as they have joined their employer within the past 3 months i.e. from July 2026. Investment into Youth Guarantee and additional investment in the Growth and Skills Levy demonstrate the Government’s commitment to backing young people, supporting employers, and working with partners across Great Britain to create clear pathways into employment and education for young people. We will continue to monitor the impact of these measures and will report the outcomes to Parliament as necessary.

With reference to his Department’s press release entitled Major employment drive to help unlock 200,000 new jobs and apprenticeships for next generation, published on 16 March 2026, whether he plans to publish regular updates on the number of jobs and apprenticeships created through the programme.

This Government will not leave an entire generation of young people behind. For many years our young people have not had the opportunity and support they deserve. Under the last government, between 2021 and 2024, the number of young people not in education, employment or training increased by 250,000. That is why this Government is investing in young people’s futures. On 16 March we announced a further £1 billion investment in young people, taking the total investment to £2.5 billion over the next three years though the Youth Guarantee and additional investment in the Growth and Skills Levy. This investment will support almost one million young people and create up to 500,000 opportunities to earn and learn. This includes the delivery of eight Youth Guarantee Trailblazers in England, expansion of Youth Hubs to more than 360 areas across Great Britain and introduction of a new Youth Guarantee Gateway in Jobcentres. The Gateway will provide 16-24-year-olds on Universal Credit a dedicated session and follow-up support to help them move into work, training or education. This investment will also create around 300,000 more opportunities to gain workplace experience and training, including up to 150,000 work experience placements and up to 145,000 employer designed training opportunities, such as Sector based Work Academy Programmes, which offer participants a guaranteed job interview at the end. In addition, the Government is taking action to support employers to recruit and train young people, helping to unlock up to 200,000 more employment opportunities. This includes a new £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant for employers who hire 18–24-year-olds who have been on Universal Credit for over six months, a new £2,000 apprenticeship incentive for small and medium sized employers hiring 16–24-year-olds, and the Jobs Guarantee scheme, providing long-term unemployed 18–24-year-olds with a fully funded six-month job. The Youth Jobs Grant is specifically targeted at young people because of the risk of lifelong scarring impacts of extended unemployment at a young age and to support this Government’s commitment to reducing the number of young people not in education, employment or training. It does not place additional requirements on employers’ wider workforce decisions, which remain governed by existing employment law. We followed standard process in assessing equalities impacts, including on the basis of age, to inform Ministerial decisions on the policy. There remains a range of wider employment programmes in place to support adults of all ages into work. The Youth Jobs Grant is also designed to support employers in hiring eligible young people who have been out of work for six months. The scheme will not require employers to demonstrate that roles are additional. Its purpose is to reduce the barriers young people face when entering the labour market by helping employers with the early costs of recruitment and training, rather than placing conditions on wider staffing decisions and how long an employer must retain someone. It is available to any registered employer across Great Britain who hires an eligible young person. To receive the Grant, the employer must take on a young person aged 18 to 24 who has been on Universal Credit for six months or more. The Grant will be paid in staged instalments after the employment relationship has started, which will encourage sustained employment during the early months without requiring a formal retention period. We expect several thousand employers across Great Britain to make use of the Youth Jobs Grant over the next three years. The scheme is designed to support up to 60,000 opportunities for young people and we expect take-up will vary by sector and region depending on employers’ hiring needs. The Grant is open to organisations of all sizes. Further practical details on how employers will claim the Youth Jobs Grant will be set out in guidance ahead of the scheme launching in June 2026. To support 50,000 more young people into apprenticeships, we are expanding foundation apprenticeships into hospitality and retail, launching a new level 2 administrative assistant apprenticeship for young people from August, and introducing a new incentive of up to £2,000 for SMEs which take on 16–24-year-old apprentices as new employees. The incentive will apply to apprenticeship starts from October 2026, as long as they have joined their employer within the past 3 months i.e. from July 2026. Investment into Youth Guarantee and additional investment in the Growth and Skills Levy demonstrate the Government’s commitment to backing young people, supporting employers, and working with partners across Great Britain to create clear pathways into employment and education for young people. We will continue to monitor the impact of these measures and will report the outcomes to Parliament as necessary.

With reference to his Department’s press release entitled Major employment drive to help unlock 200,000 new jobs and apprenticeships for next generation, published on 16 March 2026, over what time period the £1 billion funding for youth employment will be spent.

This Government will not leave an entire generation of young people behind. For many years our young people have not had the opportunity and support they deserve. Under the last government, between 2021 and 2024, the number of young people not in education, employment or training increased by 250,000. That is why this Government is investing in young people’s futures. On 16 March we announced a further £1 billion investment in young people, taking the total investment to £2.5 billion over the next three years though the Youth Guarantee and additional investment in the Growth and Skills Levy. This investment will support almost one million young people and create up to 500,000 opportunities to earn and learn. This includes the delivery of eight Youth Guarantee Trailblazers in England, expansion of Youth Hubs to more than 360 areas across Great Britain and introduction of a new Youth Guarantee Gateway in Jobcentres. The Gateway will provide 16-24-year-olds on Universal Credit a dedicated session and follow-up support to help them move into work, training or education. This investment will also create around 300,000 more opportunities to gain workplace experience and training, including up to 150,000 work experience placements and up to 145,000 employer designed training opportunities, such as Sector based Work Academy Programmes, which offer participants a guaranteed job interview at the end. In addition, the Government is taking action to support employers to recruit and train young people, helping to unlock up to 200,000 more employment opportunities. This includes a new £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant for employers who hire 18–24-year-olds who have been on Universal Credit for over six months, a new £2,000 apprenticeship incentive for small and medium sized employers hiring 16–24-year-olds, and the Jobs Guarantee scheme, providing long-term unemployed 18–24-year-olds with a fully funded six-month job. The Youth Jobs Grant is specifically targeted at young people because of the risk of lifelong scarring impacts of extended unemployment at a young age and to support this Government’s commitment to reducing the number of young people not in education, employment or training. It does not place additional requirements on employers’ wider workforce decisions, which remain governed by existing employment law. We followed standard process in assessing equalities impacts, including on the basis of age, to inform Ministerial decisions on the policy. There remains a range of wider employment programmes in place to support adults of all ages into work. The Youth Jobs Grant is also designed to support employers in hiring eligible young people who have been out of work for six months. The scheme will not require employers to demonstrate that roles are additional. Its purpose is to reduce the barriers young people face when entering the labour market by helping employers with the early costs of recruitment and training, rather than placing conditions on wider staffing decisions and how long an employer must retain someone. It is available to any registered employer across Great Britain who hires an eligible young person. To receive the Grant, the employer must take on a young person aged 18 to 24 who has been on Universal Credit for six months or more. The Grant will be paid in staged instalments after the employment relationship has started, which will encourage sustained employment during the early months without requiring a formal retention period. We expect several thousand employers across Great Britain to make use of the Youth Jobs Grant over the next three years. The scheme is designed to support up to 60,000 opportunities for young people and we expect take-up will vary by sector and region depending on employers’ hiring needs. The Grant is open to organisations of all sizes. Further practical details on how employers will claim the Youth Jobs Grant will be set out in guidance ahead of the scheme launching in June 2026. To support 50,000 more young people into apprenticeships, we are expanding foundation apprenticeships into hospitality and retail, launching a new level 2 administrative assistant apprenticeship for young people from August, and introducing a new incentive of up to £2,000 for SMEs which take on 16–24-year-old apprentices as new employees. The incentive will apply to apprenticeship starts from October 2026, as long as they have joined their employer within the past 3 months i.e. from July 2026. Investment into Youth Guarantee and additional investment in the Growth and Skills Levy demonstrate the Government’s commitment to backing young people, supporting employers, and working with partners across Great Britain to create clear pathways into employment and education for young people. We will continue to monitor the impact of these measures and will report the outcomes to Parliament as necessary.

If he will hold discussions with Governments in a) Australia and b) Canada on the potential for negotiating updated reciprocal social security agreements in relation to the uprating of the UK State Pension.

There are no plans to hold discussions with any country on Reciprocal Agreements that include uprating of the State Pension.

What proportion of Universal Credit claimants are assessed as having a) negligible and b) negative disposal income after housing and energy costs.

We do not hold information on the disposable income of households after essential expenditure including energy costs. Working-age benefits covered by the Secretary of State’s statutory review will be increased by 3.8% from April, in line with the increase in the consumer prices index in the year to September 2025. The Universal Credit Act 2025 means that the Universal Credit standard allowance will be up-rated by 3.8%, followed by a further 2.3% from April.

What estimate he has made of the number of households with less than £50 per month in disposable income after essential expenditure.

We do not hold information on the disposable income of households after essential expenditure including energy costs. Working-age benefits covered by the Secretary of State’s statutory review will be increased by 3.8% from April, in line with the increase in the consumer prices index in the year to September 2025. The Universal Credit Act 2025 means that the Universal Credit standard allowance will be up-rated by 3.8%, followed by a further 2.3% from April.

Whether he plans to introduce transitional arrangements for apprentices currently undertaking Level 6 programmes who had planned to progress to Level 7 under the previous funding framework.

This government has a driving mission to break down barriers to opportunity and is determined to tackle the 40% fall in apprenticeship starts by young people aged under 25 that we’ve seen over the last decade. Since January 2026, the government no longer funds level 7 apprenticeships, equivalent to master’s degree level, except for young apprentices under the age of 22, and those under 25 who are care leavers or have an Education, Health and Care Plan. This will enable apprenticeships opportunities to be rebalanced towards young people and create more opportunities for those entering the labour market, who need skills and training to get on in their careers. Level 7 apprentices that started before 1 January 2026 will continue to be funded through to completion. The government is encouraging more employers to invest in upskilling their staff aged over 22 to level 7 where it delivers a benefit to the business and the individual. It will be for employers to determine the most appropriate training. The department has published guidance on privately funded apprenticeships, which will enable employers to privately fund level 7 apprenticeships for staff aged over 22: Privately funded apprenticeships: rules and guidance - GOV.UK(opens in a new tab). There are also alternative training options available to employers at level 7 including non-apprenticeship routes.

What estimate he has made of the number of Level 6 apprentices who were intending to progress to Level 7 apprenticeships who will no longer be eligible.

This government has a driving mission to break down barriers to opportunity and is determined to tackle the 40% fall in apprenticeship starts by young people aged under 25 that we’ve seen over the last decade. Since January 2026, the government no longer funds level 7 apprenticeships, equivalent to master’s degree level, except for young apprentices under the age of 22, and those under 25 who are care leavers or have an Education, Health and Care Plan. This will enable apprenticeships opportunities to be rebalanced towards young people and create more opportunities for those entering the labour market, who need skills and training to get on in their careers. Level 7 apprentices that started before 1 January 2026 will continue to be funded through to completion. The government is encouraging more employers to invest in upskilling their staff aged over 22 to level 7 where it delivers a benefit to the business and the individual. It will be for employers to determine the most appropriate training. The department has published guidance on privately funded apprenticeships, which will enable employers to privately fund level 7 apprenticeships for staff aged over 22: Privately funded apprenticeships: rules and guidance - GOV.UK(opens in a new tab). There are also alternative training options available to employers at level 7 including non-apprenticeship routes.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of trends in the level of participation in Level 7 apprenticeships on skills shortages in regulated professions.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 13 June 2025 to Question UIN 57098.

Pursuant to Answer of 12 January 2026 to Question 102600, what recent estimate his Department has made of the number of British citizens who have studied a course funded by the Adult Skills Fund since its creation.

The information requested is not held.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of age-based funding changes for Level 7 apprenticeships on uptake of those apprenticeships.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 13 June 2025 to Question UIN 57098.

What recent assessment he has made of the value for money of the £50 million funding given to the International Labour Organisation since 2020.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) plays an important role in setting international labour standards and holding those that fail to uphold international labour rights accountable. The UK was a founding member of the ILO; the Government is committed to maintaining its membership.The UK’s assessed annual contribution is based on the standard United Nations system of assessed contributions applied to all 187 ILO member states, broadly linked to relative levels of GDP. In 2025–26 the total UK contribution totalled £14.76 million, the majority of which is classed within the UK’s Official Development Assistance. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) ensures that the UK financial contribution to the ILO is used effectively, demonstrates value for money and aligns with the UK’s national objectives. Through our permanent membership of the ILO Governing Body, we undertake robust scrutiny of the ILO’s budgetary proposals and administration to increase the impact, effectiveness and delivery of the Organisation.

Whether he plans to continue funding the International Labour Organisation.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) plays an important role in setting international labour standards and holding those that fail to uphold international labour rights accountable. The UK was a founding member of the ILO; the Government is committed to maintaining its membership.The UK’s assessed annual contribution is based on the standard United Nations system of assessed contributions applied to all 187 ILO member states, broadly linked to relative levels of GDP. In 2025–26 the total UK contribution totalled £14.76 million, the majority of which is classed within the UK’s Official Development Assistance. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) ensures that the UK financial contribution to the ILO is used effectively, demonstrates value for money and aligns with the UK’s national objectives. Through our permanent membership of the ILO Governing Body, we undertake robust scrutiny of the ILO’s budgetary proposals and administration to increase the impact, effectiveness and delivery of the Organisation.

What estimate he has made of the expected contribution to the International Labour Organisation in 2025-26.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) plays an important role in setting international labour standards and holding those that fail to uphold international labour rights accountable. The UK was a founding member of the ILO; the Government is committed to maintaining its membership.The UK’s assessed annual contribution is based on the standard United Nations system of assessed contributions applied to all 187 ILO member states, broadly linked to relative levels of GDP. In 2025–26 the total UK contribution totalled £14.76 million, the majority of which is classed within the UK’s Official Development Assistance. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) ensures that the UK financial contribution to the ILO is used effectively, demonstrates value for money and aligns with the UK’s national objectives. Through our permanent membership of the ILO Governing Body, we undertake robust scrutiny of the ILO’s budgetary proposals and administration to increase the impact, effectiveness and delivery of the Organisation.

What proportion of staff in his Department have (a) office-based, (b) hybrid and (c) remote-working contracts.

Due to the operational nature of the department, a significant proportion of DWP roles — particularly customer-facing and telephony positions—are required to be carried out from the office to ensure customers receive consistent and timely support. Hybrid working is available only to colleagues whose job roles are able to support it and is offered on a noncontractual basis. Eligible staff are expected to spend at least 60% of their working time in the office, supporting effective teamwork, leadership visibility and high quality service delivery. In line with Cabinet Office guidance, contractual homeworking is usually restricted to disabled employees for whom it is a reasonable adjustment, which the Equality Act 2010 obliges us to implement. As of 31 January 2026, 1.8% of paid staff are designated as Contracted Homeworkers.

What information his Department holds on the proportion of graduates that enter graduate employment schemes within one year of completing their studies.

We do not capture data on the number of graduates entering graduate schemes or graduate-level employment. The latest published DfE data shows that the unemployment rate for graduates is lower than non-graduates. A link to this data can be found here.(opens in a new tab)

What steps is he taking to help ensure JobCentre Plus provides effective support to graduates seeking graduate-level employment.

We do not capture data on the number of graduates entering graduate schemes or graduate-level employment. The latest published DfE data shows that the unemployment rate for graduates is lower than non-graduates. A link to this data can be found here.(opens in a new tab)