Written question asked by Stephen O'Brien (Conservative) on Tuesday, 28 April 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 30 April 2009. It was answered by Sarah McCarthy-Fry (Labour) on Tuesday, 5 May 2009 on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Apprentices: Expenditure

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much has been spent on apprenticeships for 16 to 18 year olds in (a) Cheshire and (b) England in the last 12 months.

Answer: I have been asked to reply.For apprenticeships for 16 to 18-year-olds in 2008-09, £12.4 million has been allocated to training providers contracted to the LSC in the Cheshire and Warrington area. In 2007-08, the latest financial year for which spend information is available, £637 million was spent on apprenticeships for young people in England. Total funding for apprenticeships in England is planned to increase to over £1 billion in 2009-10. Earlier in the year my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced a £140 million package to provide 35,000 extra apprenticeship places in the coming year.

Secondary information