§ Mr. LeightonTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the percentage change in the recruitment of apprentices in the engineering industry over the last year.
Mr. JacksonInformation on the recruitment of apprentices is not collected. However, the most recently available results from the annual labour force survey show that there were an estimated 73,000 apprentices in metal goods, engineering and vehicles in spring 1990. This represents an increase of 33 per cent. on the 1989 figure. Apprenticeships are only part of the system of delivering vocational training. The 1980s saw the introduction and expansion of training of young people through the youth training scheme. In addition, many young people opt to acquire vocational training through the further education system.