David Willetts

A mere 13 of the 144 frozen college building projects have been given the go-ahead, ministers revealed today. Every one of the approved projects is in a Labour-held seat.

Official figures published today show that, despite ministers’ targets of more apprenticeships for young people, the number of 16 to 18 year olds starting an apprenticeship fell by eight per cent in the first three quarters of 2008/09, and the number of 19 to 24 year-olds starting an apprenticeship fell by two per cent.

New Government figures published today show that both a record number and proportion of young people are not in any form of education, employment or training. The data shows that there are now 935,000 16-24 year-old NEETs in England, up from 810,000 last year.

Responding to new Government figures showing that the proportion of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) is rising, with more than one in ten 16-18 year olds in England not engaged in any positive activity, Shadow Universities and Skills Secretary, David Willetts said:

Commenting on the Government’s further delays to Further Education (FE) college capital funding projects announced by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), Shadow Innovation, Universities and Skills Secretary, David Willetts said: