Apprenticeship Levy expenditure 2017 to 2018: FOI release

FOI reference: FOI/18/01074
Date received: 6 April 2018
Date responded: 9 April 2018

Information requested

Requested information "Details of how much Apprenticeship Levy funding the Scottish Government has spent in 2017/18 in the following local authority areas";

A. North Ayrshire
B. East Ayrshire
C. South Ayrshire

Response

The money received by the Scottish Government as a result of the introduction of the UK Government's Apprenticeship Levy in 2017/18 has largely replaced what the Scottish Government would have received as our previous share of existing UK Departmental skills spend.

This is within the context of tough economic and public expenditure conditions, for example, between 2010-11 and 2019-20 Scotland's discretionary budget allocation has decreased by around 8%, £2.6 billion – in real terms.

In line with our consultation on the introduction of the apprenticeship levy in Scotland, the Scottish Government continues to prioritise existing commitments to deliver our distinctly Scottish approach to skills, training and employment provision, including the expansion of Apprenticeships.

Evidence on how that investment is benefitting Local Authority areas in Ayrshire is available publicly through the following:

• North Ayrshire: https://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/media/44194/sdsspend-north-ayrshire-1617.pdf
• East Ayrshire: https://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/media/44182/sdsspend-east-ayrshire-1617.pdf
• South Ayrshire: https://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/media/44201/sdsspend-south-ayrshire-1617.pdf

Additionally, despite continued UK Government real terms cuts to Scotland's resource budget, we have treated local government very fairly. This year councils will receive funding through the local government finance settlement of £10.7 billion. This will provide a real terms boost in both revenue and capital funding.

East Ayrshire Council will receive £227.9 million revenue funding in 2018-19. Taken together with the decision to increase council tax by 3%, East Ayrshire Council will have an additional £6.6 million to support local day-to-day services compared to 2017-18.

North Ayrshire Council will receive £275.3 million revenue funding in 2018-19. Taken together with the decision to increase council tax by 3%, North Ayrshire Council will have an additional £8.1 million to support local day-to-day services compared to 2017-18.

South Ayrshire Council will receive £201.7 million revenue funding in 2018-19. Taken together with the decision to increase council tax by 3%, South Ayrshire Council will have an additional £6.7 million to support local day-to-day services compared to 2017-18.

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