To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much of the Learning and Skills Council funding allocation for 2009-10 to providers of Train to Gain and apprenticeship training he expects to be spent on learners who started their courses in 2008-09. (282841)

The success of Train to Gain means that we expect that over the two years 2008-09 and 2009-10 to deliver 100,000 more starts and learners than we had previously planned.

The contract values that have now been issued to providers for the 2009-10 academic year ensure that we will remain within the overall budget. These contract values cover the costs of both continuing learners as well as new starts. The precise funding required for continuing learners will depend on actual performance in 2008-09 and will need to be managed within the overall budgets available.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much the Learning and Skills Council (a) has distributed to training providers for 2008-09 and (b) expects to distribute to training providers in 2009-10 for (i) Train to Gain learners, (ii) apprentices aged between 16 and 18 years, (iii) apprentices aged between 19 and 24 years, (iv) adult apprentices and (v) other training programmes. (282955)

The budget available for Train to Gain through the Learning and Skills Council in the 2008-09 financial year is £797 million and £925 million for the 2009-10 financial year. The actual amount of funding that is paid to training providers will depend on performance during the year, and the actual amount of training delivered.

In 2008-09 financial year the budget available for 16 to 18-year-old Apprenticeships is £628 million, £266 million for 19 to 24-year-old Apprenticeships and £67 million for Apprenticeships for those over 25. In 2009-10 there is £708 million available for 16 to 18-year-old Apprenticeships, £273 million for 19 to 24-year-old Apprenticeships and £117 million for Apprenticeships for those over 25. As for Train to Gain the actual amount of funding that is paid to training providers will depend on their performance during the year and the actual amount of training delivered.

The LSC will report the actual spend on both Train to Gain and Apprenticeships during the 2008-09 financial year as part of their annual report, due to be published shortly.