§ Mr. GibbTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his Answer of 11 February 2003,Official Report, column 693W, on modern apprenticeship programmes, if he will make a statement on the achievement rates of full national vocational qualification (a) level 2 for Foundation Modern Apprenticeships and (b) level 3 for Advanced Modern Apprenticeships from 1994 to 2001. [98908]
406W
§ Mr. Ivan LewisMy earlier answer to the hon. Member provided figures for the achievement of the main National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) within Modern Apprenticeship (MA) frameworks. These have risen substantially since 1997. Over half of Advanced Modern Apprentice trainees now complete their level 3 NVQ; other positive outcomes include progression to higher education and continuing with the same employer.
On 25 February, the Government launched a new Modern Apprenticeship Task Force, under Sir Roy Gardner, to encourage a higher level of employer commitment to MAs. We expect, through their work and that of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), retention and completion rates to rise further.
Ma framework completion involves achievement of the appropriate NVQ, Key Skills and Technical Certificate qualifications. The collection of information on whole framework completion was a recommendation of the MA Advisory Committee. The LSC aims to publish NVQ attainment and framework completion data from spring 2003.