To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills pursuant to the answer of 24 February 2009, Official Report, column 741W, on apprentices, how many people undertaking apprenticeship training as part of the Government Skills National Apprenticeship Pathfinder Scheme in 2008-09 are (a) new employees hired as apprentices and (b) existing employees converting to apprenticeships. (263889)

The Government Skills National Apprenticeship Pathfinder scheme brought 16 Government Departments together to increase the numbers of apprenticeships in the civil service starting in 2008-09. The original target of 500 apprenticeship starts has been more than doubled, with 1,395 starts to the period ending 31 March 2009.

Civil servant numbers have declined since 2004, so the Pathfinder scheme was designed to primarily focus on offering high quality apprenticeships to existing members of staff. It is a standard route for apprentices to be in a job before they begin their apprenticeship, in both the public and private sector. For 2008-09 the number of apprentices entering the Pathfinder scheme at the point of recruitment has been 30.

Many of those undertaking apprenticeships work in operational delivery roles in the Department for Work and Pensions, the UK Border Agency, HM Revenue and Customs, the Driving Standards Agency and the Ministry of Justice.

Government Skills is now working with Departments to help embed apprenticeships in their recruitment processes.