§ Mr. WillisTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of(a) 16–17 and (b) 18 to 24-year-olds on modern apprenticeships are paid (i) below and (ii) above the national minimum wage. [106654]
§ Mr. Ivan LewisThe national minimum wage does not apply to apprentices who are under the age of 19, or to apprentices aged 19–25 and in the first 12 months of their apprenticeship. We do not routinely collect information on the wages paid to those undertaking a Modern Apprenticeship. However, the fourth report of the Low Pay Commission notes that the lowest quartile pay of apprentices aged 16–25 was £3.72 per hour according to the spring 2002 Labour Force Survey. This is above the minimum wage youth development rate.