Ministers have been called to explain how local authorities will be able to meet the Government's new apprenticeships target under ‘brutal financial pressures' from Whitehall.

Speaking in the House of Commons last week, shadow minister for business, innovation and skills, Kevin Brennan, said there was ‘little explanation from the Government as to how local government and other public bodies, which have been subject to deep budget cuts, will easily be able to expand the number of high-quality apprenticeships that they can offer at a time when they are having to reduce their staffing because of central government policy'.