---

Training Allowances

Answer

The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) is funded by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) through an annual Grant Letter that sets out the LSC's key priorities. The operational delivery of individual programmes, taking account of these priorities and the funding made available by the Department, is a matter for the LSC.The following table details the figures for work based learning for the relevant years. All amounts are rounded to the nearest £1 million.

	2003–04	2004–05	2005–06
Work-based learning youth	565	615	606
E2E	206	247	220
Work based learning adult	213	243	269
Total	984	1,105	1,095
Note: 2003–04 and 2004–05 figures are from LSC audited accounts. 2005–06 figures are latest LSC allocations.

The Minimum Training Allowance (MTA) is £40 per week and is paid to unwaged trainees. The LSC has responsibility for the MTA and holds the information about the detailed expenditure on the MTA for unwaged trainees. Mark Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, has written to the hon. Member with the information requested and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Library.Letter from Mark Haysom, dated 14 February 2006:"I write in response to your recent Parliamentary Question where you asked the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the cost was of minimum training allowances for unwaged trainees on work based learning in (a) 2003–04, (b) 2004–05 and (c) 2005–06.""In the academic year 2003/04 the LSC expended £77m on allowances for young people. In 2004/05 this reduced to £67m. This reduction is due to more apprentices being employed on the first day of their training meaning that the employer pays a wage of at least £80 per week. Currently only 15% of apprentices do not receive a wage directly from their employer.""The 2005/06 academic year is still in progress and will see the introduction of Educational Maintenance Allowances to replace the Minimum Training Allowances in WBL. This transition will bring to an end the inequalities between allowances in WBL and Further Education.""The main impact of this change will be that those apprentices and learners on Entry to Employment (E2E) who are not receiving a wage will receive EMA and family benefits such as Child Benefit, Child Tax Credits and Income Support.""I trust this provides all the information you require and should you wish to discuss this further please do not hesitate to contact Kevin Street on 02476 823513 or by email on kevin.street@lsc.gov.uk."

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

33348; 443 c601-2W;443 c600-1W

Session

2005-06

Related items

Deposited Paper HINF 2006/419
Thursday, 23 February 2006
Deposited papers
House of Commons

Subjects

Allowances Finance Training Young people

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk