§ Dr. TwinnTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to restructure apprentice training within the Army. [25538]
§ Mr. SoamesA review of apprentice training arrangements in the Army has recommended, subject to consultation, that they should be restructured along the lines of the Government flagship initiative on modern apprenticeship training, which is intended to raise the competence and competitiveness of the UK work force as a whole.
The Army's scheme, which will encompass the Royal Engineers, Royal Signals, Royal Signals Corps and the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, would be open to young people aged sixteen and a half to eighteen and a half, and would commence with a common 28-week foundation course at Rowcroft barracks, Arborfield followed by technical training at the appropriate arm or service's trade training school and a period of on-the-job training leading to the award of a national vocational qualification—NVQ—level three within three to four years.
460WThe proposals would necessitate some revision to our previous plans to transfer all R Signals apprentice training to Blandford. Under the new arrangements, future R Signals apprentices would still complete their trade training at Blandford, but only after completing their 28-week foundation course at Arborfield.