Kevin Brennan (Minister of State (also in the Department for Business, Innovations and Skills), Department for Children, Schools and Families; Cardiff West, Labour)

Our records show that in 2007-08, £202,000 was spent by the Learning and Skills Council on funding level four or higher-level apprenticeship places. This includes new learners who started an apprenticeship that year and funding those who had started their programme in the previous year. Prior to 2006-07, level four apprenticeships were not available. A higher-level apprenticeship is not an award/qualification and as such the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) is unable to capture data regarding provision of that nature.

Higher-level apprenticeships are only available in a limited number of areas, such as engineering and ICT. The Department will shortly publish the Specification of Apprenticeship Standards for England (SASE), which will for the first time set out the essential components and standards for all apprenticeship frameworks. The SASE will require that all frameworks include clear career progression routes, including higher-level apprenticeships and other routes through further and higher education.