Meeting of the Parliament 19 March 2014
The Auditor General’s staff member said that they would clarify in writing to the committee the exact number of respondents.
We previously had a £60 million budget for 10,600 apprenticeships, so the average spend for each apprenticeship was £5,660. We have achieved an additional 15,700 modern apprenticeships for an additional £15 million. If we divide £15 million by 15,700, we see that the average cost of an apprenticeship has been brought down to less than £1,000.
I appreciate that there are more level 2 apprenticeships; I also appreciate that modern apprenticeships have replaced the skillseekers scheme. I am familiar with that scheme because of my background; I am sure that other members are, too. I look forward to the information from Skills Development Scotland and the Auditor General about how many people were transferred from the skillseekers scheme to modern apprenticeships. However, at the end of the day, what we all want is that more people receive the training.
I am pleased to hear that the minister is working together with the UK on the EU youth employment initiative. Youth unemployment is a challenge of our times. It threatens economic health and social wellbeing. It has been estimated that it will cost the UK economy more than £28 billion—a sum that does not even begin to address the human cost.
I must move on quickly, given that I have taken some interventions.