Written questions by Lowe.

How much of the funds raised through the apprenticeship levy was allocated directly to apprenticeships; and how much was redirected to general government revenue in each of the last ten financial years.

The Apprenticeship Levy was introduced in 2017, and is paid by large employers with a total annual pay bill of over £3 million. Their contribution is 0.5% of their total annual pay bill. HMT sets the Department for Education’s budget at each Spending Review. The apprenticeship budget funds all apprenticeship training in England – both existing and new apprenticeships – across all employers. Underspends are returned to HMT as per the Consolidated Budgeting Guidance. While the Apprenticeship Levy is raised UK wide, apprenticeship policy and spending is devolved. This means that the devolved governments receive funding through the Barnett formula in relation to apprenticeship spending in England, with the formula applying in the normal way, as set out in the Statement of Funding Policy, when the Department for Education’s budgets change. As set out in the Policy, the Barnett formula applies to overall changes in DfE’s settlement at Spending Reviews. This means it is not possible to identify the Barnett consequentials for individual programmes. It is the devolved governments’ responsibility to allocate their funding in devolved areas as they see fit, including investing in their skills programmes, and they are accountable to the devolved legislatures for those decisions. The table below sets out the apprenticeship budget in relation to Levy receipts once Barnett consequentials are accounted for. This is an indicative profile based on a population-based share, rounded to the nearest £5 million. (£ million)FY 17-18FY 18-19FY 19-20FY 20-21FY 21-22FY 22-23FY 23-24FY 24-25Levy Receipts2,2712,7132,7982,9103,2133,5803,8414,100England Apprenticeship Budget2,0102,2312,4692,4672,4662,5542,5252,771Devolved Governments Funding (notional Barnett allocation beyond 2019-20)425440460460460480500550Difference-16442-131-17287546816779

Whether it is her policy to allow people with pending deportation orders to change their name.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave him to Question 58408.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what proportion of his Department's procurement contracts were awarded to British companies in the last financial year.

Based on available data, in the financial year 2024-25, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) centrally awarded a total of 558 commercial contracts. Of these, 277 contracts-representing approximately 49.6 per cent of awarded contracts-were awarded to companies with their head office registered in the United Kingdom.The FCDO ensures that its contracts are tendered in accordance with UK procurement legislation, promoting open and fair competition, following a set of standard processes designed to ensure transparency, value for money, and equal opportunity for suppliers.

What proportion of departmental procurement contracts were awarded to British companies in the 2024-2025 financial year.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero awarded 98.5% of its contracts to British Companies.

How many and what proportion of departmental procurement contracts were awarded to British companies in the last financial year.

The department’s procurement and contract management system only collects information related to company head office addresses rather than the ‘nationality’ of a company.Details of central government contracts above £12,000 for procurements commenced before 24 February 2025 are published on Contracts Finder, which can be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder.Contracts procured under the Procurement Act 2023 above £12,000 including VAT are published on the Central Digital Platform Find a Tender service. This includes a note of the winning supplier. The service can be found here: https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Search.

What proportion of procurement contracts were awarded to UK companies in the 2024-25 financial year.

Within financial year 2024-2025, the Ministry of Justice awarded 601 contracts to suppliers for provision of goods and services across the justice sector. 591 (98.3%) of these contracts were awarded to UK companies.Details of central government contracts above £12,000 for procurements commenced before 24 February 2025 are published on Contracts Finder. Contracts procured under the Procurement Act 2023 above £12,000 inc VAT are published on the Central Digital Platform Find a Tender service. This includes a note of the winning supplier.

What proportion of procurement contracts were awarded to UK companies in the 2024-25 financial year.

The Scotland Office did not award any procurement contracts in 2024-25.The Scotland Office is a small Ministerial Department which, other than for minor or bespoke purchases, does not normally undertake direct procurement.

What proportion of her Department's procurement contracts were awarded to UK companies in the last financial year.

Details of central government contracts above £12,000 for procurements commenced before 24 February 2025 are published on Contracts Finder (https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder).Contracts procured under the Procurement Act 2023 above £12,000 inc. VAT are published on the Central Digital Platform Find a Tender service. This includes a note of the winning supplier (https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Search).

How many and what proportion of departmental procurement contracts were awarded to British companies in the 2024-2025 financial year.

Details of central government contracts above £12,000 for procurements commenced before 24 February 2025 are published on Contracts Finder (Contracts Finder - GOV.UK). Contracts procured under the Procurement Act 2023 above £12,000 inc VAT are published on the Central Digital Platform Find a Tender service. (https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Search).No procurement contracts were awarded by the AGO below £12,000 during the 2024-2025 financial year.

How many and what proportion of departmental procurement contracts were awarded to British companies in the last financial year.

Across DfT (DfTc and EAs), in FY 24/25, 901 out of 909 contracts were awarded to British Companies (based in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland). Companies were determined as British Companies by reviewing suppliers addresses and operations for the contracts (to determine if they were based in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland).

What proportion of her Department's procurement contracts were awarded to British companies in the last financial year.

The information requested is not held centrally and to provide it would incur disproportionate costs. Information on government contracts can be found here: DWP Contracts Finder.

What proportion of procurement contracts were awarded to UK companies in the 2024-25 financial year.

In the 2024-25 financial year, the Northern Ireland Office has awarded all procurement contracts to UK companies.Details of central government contracts above £12,000 for procurements commenced before 24 February 2025 are published on Contracts Finder (https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder).Contracts procured under the Procurement Act 2023 above £12,000 inc. VAT are published on the Central Digital Platform Find a Tender service. This includes a note of the winning supplier (https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Search).

How many and what proportion of departmental procurement contracts were awarded to British companies in the 2024-25 financial year.

Central government contracts above £12,000 for procurements commenced before 24 February 2025 are published on Contracts Finder (https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder). Contracts procured under the Procurement Act 2023 above £12,000 inc VAT are published on the Central Digital Platform Find a Tender service. This includes a note of the winning supplier. (https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Search).

Communities and Local Government, what proportion of procurement contracts were awarded to UK companies in the 2024-25 financial year.

Details of central government contracts above £12,000 for procurements commenced before 24 February 2025 are published on Contracts Finder (https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder). Contracts procured under the Procurement Act 2023 above £12,000 inc VAT are published on the Central Digital Platform Find a Tender service. This includes a note of the winning supplier. (https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Search).

Innovation and Technology, how many and what proportion of departmental procurement contracts were awarded to British companies in the last financial year.

Details of central government contracts above £12,000 for procurements commenced before 24 February 2025 are published on Contracts Finder (https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder).Contracts procured under the Procurement Act 2023 above £12,000 inc VAT are published on the Central Digital Platform Find a Tender service. This includes a note of the winning supplier. (https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Search). Department for Science, Innovation and Technology awarded 95% of its contracts to British Companies.

What proportion of her Department's procurement contracts were awarded to British companies in the last financial year.

Contracts are awarded in compliance with the relevant public procurement regulations to ensure value for money, and most go to UK firms.

What proportion of procurement contracts were awarded to UK companies in the 2024-25 financial year.

The requested information is not held in a reportable format. To provide this information would require a manual review of contract records, which could only be done for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

How many and what proportion of departmental procurement contracts were awarded to British companies in the last financial year.

In the financial year 2024-25, the Department awarded 274 contracts, 239 (87.2%) of which were to UK companies.

Media and Sport, how many and what proportion of departmental procurement contracts were awarded to British companies in the last financial year.

From April 1st 2024, to March 31st 2025, a total of 135 agreements were executed. Out of these, 131 contracts were awarded to British companies, which equates to approximately 97% of contracts.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many and what proportion of departmental procurement contracts were awarded to British companies in the last financial year.

There were 508 contracts awarded by Defra as the contract owner in financial year 2024/25 – 500 are to UK-based suppliers, which equates to 98.43% and excludes purchase orders raised for Defra below threshold. Details of central Government contracts above £12,000 for procurements commenced before 24 February 2025 are published on Contracts Finder. Contracts procured under the Procurement Act 2023 above £12,000 including VAT are published on the Central Digital Platform Find a Tender service. This includes a note of the winning supplier.