David Ruffley MP, commenting on the recent announcementby the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the 2011 Budget that the Government willprovide an extra 50,000 apprenticeship places said:

'I warmly welcome these extra 50,000 apprenticeshipplaces. The Government has committed to providing funding for these extra50,000 on top of 200,000 already promised over the next four years. The totalfunding for apprenticeships in the next year will be raised to £1,328 million.In the year 2011-12 it will be raised further to £1,404 million.

This is will be great opportunity for Suffolk andespecially for West Suffolk College. I am seeking a meeting with Dr AnnWilliams the principle of West Suffolk College to talk to her about how WestSuffolk College will benefit from these extra places. It is important thatSuffolk takes advantage of this opportunity to its full potential, especiallyWest Suffolk College which is a very important provider of apprenticeships inmy constituency.'