THE Government insists it is determined to protect frontline services for training young people after leaked documents suggested hundreds of thousands of places could be slashed.
Confidential papers from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills reportedly show that £252 million is to be cut from key training programmes.
That could mean as many as 335,000 places being dropped.
The 19-plus age group hoping to join courses at FE colleges, independent training companies, or becoming apprentices would be the hardest hit.
A Department for Business spokesman said: “It remains our commitment to protect frontline services and identify savings through efficiency measures and improving value for money wherever possible.
“The skills sector has received record investment in recent years.”
Shadow work and pensions secretary Theresa May said: “At the time when we have the highest youth unemployment in Europe, this will come as a bitter blow to young people.”
