Miliband: Apprenticeships For School Leavers

Ed Miliband has announced plans to make sure every school leaver who makes the grade is given an apprenticeship.

Setting out Labour's economic vision, he promised 80,000 new apprenticeships for 18-year-olds who achieve two A-Levels or a similar vocational qualification.

He said the public sector would provide thousands of places, while firms awarded major government contracts or those who recruit from outside the EU would be required to deliver apprenticeships.

The Labour leader pointed out the number of UK apprenticeships was falling with only one in 10 firms offering places - six times fewer than in Germany.

He said: "Nothing more symbolises the current Government's failing plan than seeing the tax gap - between what should be paid and the revenue received - widening, while the number of apprenticeships available for young people is falling."

The announcement was the centrepiece of a speech in Birmingham in which Mr Miliband set out a "better plan" for an economy that would succeed for "working families of Britain as a whole".

He said: "We need a better plan to replace an economy where tens of billions are lost in tax avoidance with an economy where tens of thousands more of our young people are doing apprenticeships and we help more businesses grow, succeed and create wealth."

Mr Miliband unveiled a 79-page document outlining proposals to generate investment and cut taxes for small businesses in a bid to restore his relationship with firms.

He guaranteed corporation tax would be the "most competitive in the G7" and promised increased competition in energy and banking to bring down bills.

Mr Miliband also said he would introduce a ban on zero-hours contracts and promised to stay in a reformed European Union.

The proposals were welcomed by John Longworth, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce.

He said: "It is encouraging to see Mr Miliband set out some positive policies for business, notably around access to finance, infrastructure and encouraging long-term investment.

"Mr Miliband is right to focus on the importance of high quality apprenticeships, and collectively we can work harder to deliver more of them.

"We also favour giving employers more control over funding, so that companies can train apprentices with the skills to suit their needs."

Conservative chairman Grant Shapps said Mr Miliband had "never run a business in his life" and was the "last person in the world we should be listening to on this".

Mr Miliband's speech came as the shadow business secretary dismissed the row over Ed Balls' suggestion people should collect receipts from gardeners and cleaners as a "storm in a teacup".

Speaking to Sky News, Chuka Umunna said the shadow chancellor was not demanding everyone must collect written notes in respect of all minor cash-in-hand jobs.

Mr Balls made his comments at the weekend in the middle of the row between the Tories and Labour over tax avoidance and the handling of HSBC's Swiss dealings.

He said he always asked for a receipt, even if it was for £10 to trim a hedge, because it was the "right thing to do".

Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith branded the comments as "absurd".

Speaking in Birmingham Mr Miliband said: "We're all clear the Hedge Funds are more important than the hedge cutters."