§ 55. Mr. Michael MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest estimate of the number of apprentices in the United Kingdom ; and what it was 10 years ago.
§ Mr. NichollsThe latest available estimate of the number of persons undertaking an apprenticeship in the United Kingdom is 331,000 at spring 1986, based on information from the labour force survey. Further estimates from the labour force survey show that in Great Britain the number of apprentices fell from 367,000 at spring 1979 (the earliest date available) to 318,000 at spring 1986. With the move away from traditional apprentice training in many industries, some long-duration schemes of a type which previously could have involved apprenticeships may now no longer do so.