£50
is pretty normal for a modern apprenticeship, for instance - my niece is training to be a hairdresser and gets paid about that. And yes, you can get grants for interview clothes plus transport to and from interviews etc. Although I don't know if this comes direct from the government but I know for a fact that places like remploy do this.
(berk, Wed 2 Jun 2010, 14:33, 2 replies)

I read somewhere
that minimum wage applies to apprenticeships.
( sandettie light vessel automatic New Twitter - @bollocksreally, Wed 2 Jun 2010, 14:37, closed)

From HMRC website:
From pay reference periods starting on or after 1 October 2006 the special rules for apprentices will be extended to apprentices aged over 25. This will mean that:

apprentices under age 19 will not qualify for the national minimum wage
apprentices over age 19 and in the first 12 months of their apprenticeship will not qualify for the national minimum wage.
(Marmite Omelette ...but I feel better having screamed, don't you?, Wed 2 Jun 2010, 14:54, closed)

Interviews for work, yes, but not to get to the jobcentre.
Which again was how it reads.
( Holly Would long wheel based tranny, Wed 2 Jun 2010, 14:56, closed)