BRITISH RACING SCHOOLS PROGRAMME-LED APPRENTICESHIPS

That this House is aware that under proposals currently being considered by Ministers, programme-led apprenticeships, the delivery model currently used for young people entering the UK racing industry, will cease in April 2011, as it is the Government's considered view that anyone on an apprenticeship should be employed except where, due to practical and/or health and safety reasons, direct entry into employment at the outset of an apprenticeship is not possible; reminds those responsible for such considerations that riding and racing thoroughbred racehorses carries risks and therefore young people entering this industry should be properly trained and prepared in controlled environments with the expertise and resources necessary on hand to achieve this as they currently are by the tworegistered British racing schools; and calls on the Government to recognise that pre-apprenticeshiptraining is therefore not only common sense but essential in achieving such provision in the UK's racing, breeding and equestrian industries.