4 Conclusion
52. Overall, we welcome the Draft Bill. One of
its strengths, in our opinion, is that it will help to raise the
profile of apprenticeships at a time when they might be overshadowed
by initiatives and reforms elsewhere in the 14-19 sector. Although
not explicit in the Draft Bill itself, we also welcome the clear
intention in the Government's Apprenticeship programme to increase
the numbers of apprenticeships in regions and sectors where supply
has always been low, particularly the public sector. Against these
plus points must be balanced our fears that the economic downturn
and its consequences for employers will bring into question the
practicality of the one powerful lever in the Draft Bill—the
duty on the Learning and Skills Council to secure sufficient and
appropriate apprenticeship places for each suitably qualified
young person who wants one.
53. However, our concerns about the impact of
the challenging economic circumstances extend beyond apprenticeships
to other areas of 14-19 policy. The transfer of responsibility
for funding and delivering education and training for 16 to 18-year-olds
from the Learning and Skills Council to local authorities by 2010
is a dramatic change which, unlike the Draft Apprenticeships Bill,
has not been submitted for pre-legislative scrutiny. We see a
distinct danger that a major reorganisation of responsibilities
could occur just at a time when a more cautious approach might
be needed to give the necessary priority to learning and skills
for young people.
54. We urge the Government not to assume that
the provisions of the Draft Apprenticeships Bill will play a
large part in meeting the needs of young people in education and
training during a time of economic challenge. Thinking on a much
larger scale is required; and we
invite the Government to proceed cautiously in the transfer of
responsibility for funding education and training for 16 to 18-year-olds
from the Learning and Skills Council to local authorities.
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