Mr. Fergal Costello:

To finish on performance funding, as well, that funding is obviously an important lever and we built that in. Equally, there is a lot of evidence that just by being transparent and saying that institutions are not performing and not delivering their set objectives, it has a sharp impact on institutional performance. Institutions are precious about their reputations and do not want to be seen towards the bottom of a list. Therefore, it is a question of performance funding and also the transparency of saying, "You said this but you have not actually delivered it".

In terms of apprenticeship, the point was made about the apartheid between universities and VECs. The higher education system has been involved in apprenticeship, particularly the institutes of technology, which have championed it for 20 years. Places four or six in an apprenticeship always go to an institute of technology, and that has been successful. However, it has been constrained by the small number of trades - 26 in total - most of which are in the construction sector. In Germany, there are 350 trades in apprenticeship. It is not construction alone; it includes bank tellers, ICT and a range of other activities. It is a good way of learning for many students in terms of having a work-academic balance. It is also an opportunity to work straight out of school, so we want to broaden it.

In last year's report, the Minister accepted that we should be aiming to broaden it. There is a call-out at present, which is inviting institutions, but primarily employers, to come forward and say, "We have particular skills needs and we think they could be served by an apprenticeship. We'd like to get some support from the Government and work in partnership around that."

We are due to get proposals in by the end of March concerning that call-out.