There is an official explanatory note to the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 on the OPSI website.

In November 2007 there was a House of Commons "topical debate" on the subject of Apprenticeships, see Hansard HC col 468, 29.11.07. The Government then proposed bringing forward legislation in the 2008-09 session to reform apprenticeships.

The introduction to the Act states that it is:

• to make provision about apprenticeships, education, training and children’s services;
  
• to amend the Employment Rights Act 1996;
  
• to establish the Young People’s Learning Agency for England, the office of Chief Executive of Skills Funding, the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation and the School Support Staff Negotiating Body and to make provision about those bodies and that office;
  
• to make provision about the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority;
  
• to make provision about schools and institutions within the further education sector;
  
• to make provision about student loans;
  
• and for connected purposes.

According to the 2007 House of Commons notes on the then proposed Apprenticeship Reform Bill the basic idea is to provide for:-

• a statutory definition of apprenticeships including arrangements for determining content of apprenticeship frameworks
  
• a duty on the LSC to provide apprenticeship places
  
• a duty to facilitate entry to apprenticeship programmes through for example a national matching service
  
• a right to public funding for apprenticeship programmes
  
• a duty to promote apprenticeships on a range of public organisations for example RDAs, LSC
  
• a duty to promote quality in apprenticeship through for example strengthened inspection arrangements
  
• recognition of completed apprenticeship through for example license to practise arrangements
  
• duty on public bodies to offer apprenticeships
  
• amendment to minimum wage regulations on the current apprenticeship exemptions

For relevant general notes go to Apprentices .