To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of apprenticeships and advanced apprenticeships had no work-based element spent with an employer in each year since 1997; and which apprenticeships have a work-based element where the apprentice spends on average (a) fewer than five, (b) five to 10, (c) 10 to 20 and (d) more than 20 hours per week with an employer over the same period. (111382)

[holding answer 30 January 2007]: Every apprenticeship programme includes appropriate employment-based learning and application. The balance between work-based and off-the-job learning varies between apprentices and employers according to need. Data on apprenticeships and advanced apprenticeships is collected on the Learning and Skills Council's individualised learner record (ILR). However, it is not possible from the data to determine the time spent by an individual apprentice on the work-based element of their programme.