Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord McCabe and Matt Hancock

Monday 9th September 2013 Commons Chamber

[Steve McCabe (Birmingham, Selly Oak) (Lab)]

14. How many young apprenticeship starts there were in the latest period for which figures are available.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Skills (Matthew Hancock)]

There were 129,900 apprenticeship starts by those aged under 19 in 2011-12.

[Steve McCabe]

Given that the number of young apprenticeships is going down, has the Minister given any thought to the proposal of the Institute of Directors that there should be an adjustment in favour of young apprenticeships to take account of how difficult the job market is for under-19s?

[Matthew Hancock]

The number of apprentices in that age group is 10% higher than it was. I saw that report and it makes an attractive argument. We pay twice as much for the training of apprentices who are under the age of 19, but I will certainly pay regard to that report.