The most recent statistics on apprenticeship starts by industry characteristics cover the 2021/22 academic year and are published on Explore Education Statistics at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/apprenticeships-in-england-by-industry-characteristics. Data for the 2022/23 academic year will be published in June 2025.

These statistics report on new apprenticeship starts in a given academic year and will not include those that are part-way through their apprenticeship. Therefore, they do not show a full count of apprentices in the workforce at that time.

Gender is not collected within the Individualised Learner Record, so this data is based on sex.

Data on apprenticeship starts below level 6 and at level 6+, by sex, in the aerospace industry is provided below.

Apprenticeship starts by level and sex in the aerospace industry:

Based on ONS data the UK aerospace manufacturing, repair and maintenance sectors directly accounted for 100,000 jobs in 2024 and supported an additional 150,000 jobs in other areas of the economy through its purchases of input goods and services.

According to ONS business survey figures, the UK aerospace industry exported £20.0 billion of its production in 2023 and £23.1 billion in 2024 (in current prices).

We are disappointed by the United States’ announcement of an increase in tariffs and we understand businesses, including in the aerospace industry, are concerned. We will continue to engage with the US to understand the details of how these tariffs will be implemented. We remain resolute in our support for UK industry; Ministers and officials will continue to meet with stakeholders and assess impacts.

There are 22 Atlas A400M aircraft in service.

All capability requirements, including those for tactical airlift, are being considered as part of the Strategic Defence Review process.

HMG allocated £225m in 2023-24 and £195m in 2024-25 to support the aerospace industry. This funding primarily supports the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) programme, which co-invests alongside industry in research and development to maintain and grow the UK’s competitive position in civil aerospace and decarbonise aviation.

The Autumn Budget 2024 announced an extension to the ATI programme providing £975m of funding up to 2030.

All young people should have access to high quality education and training that meets their needs and provides them with opportunities to thrive. This is why, in the 2025/26 financial year, the government is providing an additional £300 million for further education to ensure young people are developing the skills they need to succeed.

The department recognises the financial strain that some higher education (HE) providers are under and are working closely with the Office for Students (OfS) to monitor any risks and to ensure there are robust plans in place to mitigate them. Sir David Behan has been appointed as interim OfS Chair to oversee the important work of refocusing the OfS’ role to concentrate on key priorities, including the HE sector’s financial stability.

HE providers are autonomous and responsible for managing their own budgets and business models. However, in recognition of the financial challenges the sector is facing, the government has made the difficult decision to increase tuition fee limits by forecast Retail Prices Index inflation. As a result, the maximum fee for a standard full-time undergraduate course in the 2025/26 academic year will increase by 3.1%, from £9,250 to £9,535. Longer-term funding plans for the HE sector will be set out in due course.

Adapting to the changed context of the HE sector over the next decade will require providers to undertake a more fundamental re-examination of business models and much less wasteful spending. In return for the increased investment we are asking students to make in the sector, we will need to see far greater collaboration across the sector to drive efficiency. We will expect the sector to be significantly more transparent on how it is managing its resources and to be held to account for delivering great value for money for students and the taxpayer.

According to ONS business survey figures, the UK aerospace industry generated goods exports valued at £18.8 billion in 2022 and £20.0 billion in 2023 (in current prices). Figures for the year 2024 are not yet available.

The most recent statistics on apprenticeship starts by industry characteristics cover the 2021/22 academic year and are published here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/apprenticeships-in-england-by-industry-characteristics. Apprenticeship starts in the aerospace sector by year, from 2017/18 to 2021/22, can be found attached and also in the following linked table: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/d7e45bd9-6d39-419d-ea95-08dcfb0032ff.

The latest published data shows a total of 131,862 available beds under the care of a consultant in England, in quarter one of 2024/25. This compares to a total of 136,459 available beds in quarter one of 2013/14. Data on National Health Service bed numbers is published on the NHS England website.

The latest published data shows a total of 131,862 available beds under the care of a consultant in England, in quarter one of 2024/25. This compares to a total of 136,459 available beds in quarter one of 2013/14. Data on National Health Service bed numbers is published on the NHS England website.

We are developing a Care Workforce Pathway, which will set out the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to work in adult social care, as well as a clear career structure for the workforce. We intend to publish the first part of the pathway, focused on staff in direct care roles, in autumn 2023.

According to Skills for Care, there were 1.5 million people working in adult social care roles in England in 2021/22.

There are 14,858 registered care homes in England.

The Department collects data on the number of people residing in care homes on a monthly basis.

The Data reported in Capacity Tracker (CT) shows that in the week ending 14/05/2023 the number of people in younger and older adult care homes was 363,972. This figure is made up of both private and local authority funded clients. Data is from adult social care in England, monthly statistics, COVID-19 Vaccination statistics June 2023, Table 10.

The Short- and Long-Term collection (SALT) shows that at year end 2021/22 the number of people in care homes (residential and nursing) accessing long term support was 175,680. This figure only includes clients whose care is commissioned or funded by local authorities. Those who privately finance and organise their care are not included. Data is found in SALT Table 38.

The Government has already provided a historic increase in funding for social care. The Government announced at the Autumn Statement that up to £7.5 billion of additional funding would be available for Adult Social Care and discharge over the next two years. This historic funding boost should put the adult social care system on a stronger financial footing and help local authorities address waiting lists, low fee rates, and workforce pressures in the sector. We will keep working closely with local authorities and the adult social care sector to understand current pressures on service delivery and budgets.

The Government intends to make an announcement on the launch of Great British Nuclear (GBN) soon. GBN will be tasked with helping projects through every stage of the development process and developing a resilient pipeline of new build projects.

The Government will also develop a new nuclear National Policy Statement, which will cover the siting and policy framework for nuclear electricity generating infrastructure beyond 2025, and will consult on this new NPS in due course.

In the meantime, the Government continues to discuss new projects with viable companies and investors wishing to develop sites, including in North Wales.

In the British Energy Security Strategy, the Government set out its ambitious civil nuclear programme and the Government is committed to ensuring that the UK is one of the best places in the world to invest in new nuclear.

No decisions have yet been taken over the siting of future nuclear projects. However, the Government engages with a range of Welsh stakeholders, including the Welsh Government and Welsh Government-funded bodies, on nuclear issues including Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). The Government will continue to engage on nuclear-related issues.

The North Wales Mainline has benefitted from investment as part of recent record funding settlements for Network Rail’s Wales Route. £50m has been spent on improving the signalling system and track layout, together with improvements to Abergele and Pensarn station. The cases for further improvements to journey times on the line, and for improvements at Chester and Shotton stations are currently being developed and will be considered for funding based on their merits.