Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what progress he has made in increasing the number of science, technology, engineering and mathematics apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement. [139791]

Matthew Hancock, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State: The Government is committed to boosting apprenticeship opportunities and to improving quality across the programme to better meet employer needs. Final data for the 2010/11 academic year show that there were 48,970 apprenticeship starts in the ‘engineering and manufacturing technologies’ sector subject area, up by 29.3% on 2009/10. Provisional data for the full 2011/12 academic year show that there were 57,000 apprenticeship starts in the 'engineering and manufacturing technologies' sector subject area.

Final data for the 2010/11 academic year show that there were 10 apprenticeship starts in the 'science and mathematics' sector subject area. Provisional data for the full 2011/12 academic year show that there were 360 apprenticeship starts in the 'science and mathematics' sector subject area.

Final data for the 2010/11 academic year show that there were 19,520 apprenticeship starts in the 'information and communications technology' sector subject area, up by 55.4% on 2009/10. Provisional data for the full 2011/12 academic year show that there were 18,190 apprenticeship starts in the 'information and communications technology' sector subject area.

We have also targeted £25 million extra funding for developing advanced and higher level apprenticeship frameworks to address skills gaps. It is estimated that around 25,000 higher apprenticeship places will be created in key sectors including engineering.

Please note that the figures for 2011/12 are provisional so they should not be compared with figures for earlier years.

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