To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what schemes his Department has in place to assist with re-training people with more than five GCSEs.

The Department for Innovation, University and Skills assists people with more than five GCSEs wanting to re-train through the Train to Gain programme, apprenticeships and through further education provision. And all young people aged 19-25 are guaranteed fully funded training to achieve a level 3 qualification.

To meet the current and future demand for re-training as a result of the recession, flexibilities and additional funding have been introduced to give people the real help they need. Apprenticeships will be expanded by 35,000 places by 2009-10 funded by an additional £140 million. SMEs have priority for £350 million of Train to Gain funds to provide bite-size training in business critical areas, fully funded level 2 qualifications and subsidised level 3 qualifications, regardless of whether the employee already has a qualification at this level.

In addition, a joint package with DWP of £158 million has been made available for people who are currently facing redundancy or looking for work, and £83 million will provide high quality FE training places to around 75,000 people who have been out of work for six months or more.