Apprenticeship levy makes no sense, skills minister Julie James claims

A levy on UK employers to pay for apprenticeships will bring no new money to Wales, the skills minister has said.

The UK government has said Wales will get around £130m a year from its share of the levy, being introduced in April.

All employers with a wage bill of more than £3m a year will pay 0.5% on it.

Questioned by Plaid Cymru skills spokesman Llyr Gruffydd, Julie James said that the proceeds would be offset by cuts in other funding from the UK Treasury.

She said she was also concerned that the levy would cost Welsh public sector employers around £30m a year.