Another Tory scam

The term "apprenticeship" has been redefined by the coalition to such an extent that it is now utterly devalued.

The program featured disillusioned youngsters who spoke about the superficial nature of the six-month schemes and the lack of end product on completion.

Two whistle-blowing instructors spoke movingly of how young people were being short-changed and of the sharp practices deployed in signing people off to get public money.

Incredibly Morrisons have 52,000 "apprentices" (40 per cent of their workforce).

How much is this costing the public purse?

What is the quality of this training?

What happens to the trainees at the end of the six months - are they let go so that Morrisons can obtain another state subsidy for the next intake?

Unemployment is a tragedy for each of the one million unemployed young people but for Cameron and his chums, it is an opportunity to make a quick buck and to boast about the creation of thousands of bogus apprenticeships.

Glyn Tudor
Southampton