Angela Rayner MP, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, commenting on the Government’s u-turn on their decision to end payments for Carillion apprentices this week, said:

“If the Government has finally caved in to pressure from Labour and trade unions and agreed to continue paying the Carillion apprentices, that is welcome news for hundreds of people who had been left to face the prospect of their wages drying up by the end of the week. I hope that this is the final u-turn and that this time they stick to their promises.

“The apprentices have done nothing but work hard for jobs and qualifications, yet they have faced the threat of being abandoned without pay, work or continued training. Ministers have caused them unnecessary fear and uncertainty by failing to give clear and simple guarantees.

“Even now, it is not clear that every Carillion apprentice has been contacted. The Government must ensure that they are all able to complete their training and get the skills that both they and the wider economy need.”