§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to modify the age cap on modern apprenticeships. [104094]
§ Mr. Ivan LewisModern Apprentices aged between 16 and 24 are eligible for LSC funding support. The Government is considering the case for removing the age cap on MA funding and opening Advanced Modern Apprenticeships to suitably qualified or experienced adults, in line with Modern Apprenticeship Advisory Committee recommendations. We currently support the Rail Skills Award pilot for adult apprentices in the rail industry, and the LSC has local flexibility to fund some apprenticeship training for adults.
We will decide on the way ahead in the light of early operating experience in Wales and Scotland, where the age cap has already been lifted selectively, together with evaluation of current activity in England, and the availability of resources.