§ Dr. Jenny TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many modern apprenticeship places were taken up in(a) 2000 and (b) 2001; and how many were left vacant. [83725]
§ Mr. Ivan LewisThe number of starts on modern apprenticeships (Foundation and Advanced) in 2000 and 2001 are shown in the table:
AMA FMA 26 December 1999 to 24 December 2000 76,900 94,200 25 December 2000 to 23 December 2001 64,400 110,500 Numbers of Modern Apprenticeships left vacant are not available.
§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he is taking to increase the take-up of modern apprenticeships. [83726]
§ Mr. Ivan LewisThe Government and the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) are wholly committed to modern apprenticeships (MA) as a quality work-based learning route for young people. We have adopted a challenging Public Service Agreement (PSA) target for MA entrants by 2004—28 per cent, of young people to begin an MA by the age of 22.
The Chancellor, the Secretary of State for Education and Skills and the Chairman of the Learning and Skills Council have announced a new modern apprenticeship task force which will take a key role in promoting MA to employers and thereby contributing to increased take-up.
All parties involved in the initiative are working together to increase the take-up of MAs. The LSC is running a marketing and promotion campaign with a range of measures to reach employers and key influencers, following its successful campaign targeting young people. Connexions Partnerships are delivering improved advice and guidance to young people on the opportunities available in their communities. New and developing sector skills councils also play a key role by supporting promotion to employers in their sectors.