Data released yesterday by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills appeared to indicate that 442,700 people started apprenticeships in the academic year 2010/11 compared with 279,700 the previous year. But an internal BIS document leaked to The Guardian admitted that some existing workplace trainees were included in the figures.

The report also revealed that the number of apprentices in the over-25 category increased most swiftly, while the number of new starters who were under that age accounted for just 16% of this year's figures. During Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, David Cameron said the scheme targeted “young people who need work”, adding that it aimed to equip people with “degree-equivalent qualifications”.

But the biggest increase in numbers appeared to be in the area of lower-skilled placements. The leaked document said: “Growth review consultees have registered concerns about the quality of some apprenticeships, focusing in particular on the intermediate level dominated expansion, the value of some shorter apprenticeships and the increasing number of existing (older) employees in the programme.”

Speaking about yesterday’s figures, Business Secretary Vince Cable said: “The Government will continue to improve and strengthen the apprenticeships programme to drive up standards, cut bureaucracy for smaller firms and deliver more advanced level and high tech training.”

But a recent survey from the British Chambers of Commerce pointed to the fact that only a minority (20%) of businesses have taken on apprentices between March 2010 and April 2011.

John Longworth, the BCC's director general, said: “We applaud the government's commitment to apprenticeships. Yet our statistics show that the quality level of many apprenticeships is not high enough and too few businesses see apprenticeships as relevant to their sector. More must be done to put apprenticeships at the heart of workplace-based training and future economic growth.”