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Dept for Education and Skills

Answer

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what support has been given since 1997 to assist businesses in taking on apprentices. [51483] Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Government has contributed substantial financial support for Modern Apprenticeships (MAs), which provide craft, technological and business skills. Between 1997 and 2002 over £3.7 billion has been allocated to Government-supported work-based learning, of which it is estimated that in excess of £1 billion has been used to support MAs since 1997. As a result of this investment, the number of young people on MAs has risen from 75,000 in 1997 to over 220,000 today. We are investing an additional £180 million over three years 2001-04 to support and further develop MAs, a clear sign of the importance we attach to their role in raising skills levels in the workplace, and in offering young people high quality vocational and work-related options for post-16 learning. The Government and the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) recently agreed a target of over a quarter of young people between the age of 16 and 21 entering MAs by 2004. In addition to direct funding of MAs, we assist businesses in other ways. For example, the LSC has a major role in raising skills levels and is active in improving employers' awareness of MAs. National Training Organisations (NTOs) have played an important role in developing apprenticeship frameworks to meet employer needs in their sector and promoting entry by young people; new Sector Skills Councils, supported by the Sector Skills Development Agency (SSDA) and the LSC, will provide an even stronger focus for employers to lead the development of apprenticeships linked to skills and productivity priorities and sector needs. Careers services and Connexions Partnerships work with young people to raise awareness of the apprenticeship route. The DTI small business service is also looking at ways to assist small businesses who want to employ MAs.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

51483; 384 c307-8W;384 c308-9W

Session

2001-02

Subjects

Companies Apprentices Government assistance Training

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

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