David Willetts

Ahead of an announcement by Gordon Brown and John Denham tomorrow to provide new apprenticeships in public services, Shadow Innovation, Universities and Skills Secretary, David Willetts has obtained figures from every Government Department which reveal the very low number of public sector apprenticeships.

Apart from the Ministry of Defence, there are almost no apprentices in Government departments, including none in John Denham’s own Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills or the Treasury.

David Willetts said:

“Yet again this Government doesn’t practice what they preach.

“The Prime Minister may go on about more apprenticeships, but he has done nothing to boost them in his own backyard. Most departments, including the department in charge of apprenticeship policy and the Treasury, have no apprentices whatsoever.

“It’s a bit rich ministers telling the private sector to take on more apprentices when they employ so few themselves. The public services should be setting a clear example by running cutting-edge apprentice schemes and taking on more apprenticeships.”

Notes to Editors

Each Government Department was asked the same question:
“To ask the Secretary of State how many (a) apprenticeships and (b) advanced apprenticeships there were in (i) his Department and (ii) the agencies for which he is responsible in the most recent year for which figures are available.”

BERR - 2 Jun 2008 : Column 769W PQ 206807
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080602/text/80602w0053.htm#08060338000969

Cabinet office:
Not available online

DCSF - 4 Jun 2008 : Column 947W PQ 206838]
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080604/text/80604w0006.htm#08060491001801

DCLG - 2 Jun 2008 : Column 532W PQ 206805
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080602/text/80602w0002.htm#08060216000864

DCMS - 20 May 2008 : Column 244W PQ 206804
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080520/text/80520w0016.htm#0805212001017

MoD - 21 May 2008 : Column 308W PQ 206803
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080521/text/80521w0005.htm#08052175001738

DEFRA - 9 July 2008 : Column 1585W PQ 206802
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080709/text/80709w0002.htm#08070963001511

FCO
Not available online

Health - 21 May 2008 : Column 364W PQ 206800
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080521/text/80521w0017.htm#08052192000545

Home Office - 11 Jun 2008 : Column 332W PQ 206799
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080611/text/80611w0021.htm#0806122001309

DIUS - 22 May 2008 : Column 392W PQ 206797
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080522/text/80522w0001.htm#08052278001050

DfID - 21 May 2008 : Column 328W PQ 206796
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080521/text/80521w0010.htm#08052180000173

MoJ - 22 May 2008 : Column 410W PQ 206795
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080522/text/80522w0005.htm#08052278001147

Northern Ireland - 8 July 2008 : Column 1521W PQ 216607
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080708/text/80708w0021.htm#08070866006280

Scotland - 7 July 2008 : Column 1300W PQ 216605
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080707/text/80707w0036.htm#08070746001767

Solicitor General - 3 July 2008 : Column 1019W PQ 206793
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080703/text/80703w0002.htm#08070366002584

Transport - 4 Jun 2008 : Column 930W PQ 206792
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080604/text/80604w0003.htm#08060488000646

Treasury - 22 May 2008 : Column 434W PQ 206791
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080522/text/80522w0009.htm#08052278001261

Wales - 9 July 2008 : Column 1581W PQ 216606
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080709/text/80709w0001.htm#08070963001487

DWP - 13 Jun 2008 : Column 616W PQ 206790
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2008-06-13c.206790.h&s=willetts+department%3AWorkandPensions#g206790.q0

ENDS