Written question asked by Baroness Sharp of Guildford (Liberal Democrat), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Baroness Wilcox (Conservative) on Thursday, 12 May 2011.

Apprenticeships

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what specific objectives have been set for the National Apprenticeship Service for the current year.

Answer: The Government do not set specific objectives for the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS). The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Department for Education publish online their commitments for the apprenticeships programme in their business plans. The National Apprenticeship Service is held to account through quarterly review meetings with senior officials and a separate quarterly review meeting with the Minister for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning. These discussions address progress and expenditure against the priorities for the service that are set out in the annual skills investment strategy and the annual funding letter from the Secretary of State to the Skills Funding Agency.

Secondary information