Written question asked by Mark Hendrick (Labour) on Tuesday, 3 March 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 9 March 2009. It was answered by Sarah McCarthy-Fry (Labour) on Monday, 9 March 2009 on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Apprenticeships: Preston

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many people under 18 years of age resident in Preston completed an apprenticeship in 2008.

Answer: In Preston in 2007/08 160 people aged 16 to 18 completed an apprenticeship, up from only 70 in 2003/04. Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill provisions aim to ensure an apprenticeship place is available for all suitably qualified young people by 2013 and are key to delivering our ambition for one in five young people to be in an apprenticeship in the next decade. We have announced an additional £140 million to provide 35,000 additional places this year, 21,000 of these in the public sector.

Secondary information