To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many people in (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency and (b) the London Borough of Bexley, who lost their apprenticeship place in the last 12 months, have found new apprenticeship places with other employers. (300236)

I refer to the answer I gave to him on 5 November 2009, Official Report, column 1232W, when I explained that data about the number of apprentices made redundant are not currently available. We have put in place for this academic year, from 1 August, arrangements to record the number of apprentices who are made redundant. We expect these data to be available from early in 2010. Currently, the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) has not been approached by providers, employers or individuals in Bexleyheath and Crayford or in Bexley to support any redundant apprentices.

The London NAS has commissioned an ESF-funded Apprentice Redeployment Support Programme to cover the whole of London. It will support up to 1,000 apprentices, from all sectors, who have been made redundant or are under notice of redundancy, with a work-based training placement to enable them to complete their framework and enhance their opportunity to secure alternative employment. The programme, which started in September, is due to run until 2010, and is being delivered by South London Business and Examplas. Performance data are not yet available.