§ 11. Mr. Harry GreenwayTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many training and enterprise councils have received funding in London; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. EggarThe response from employers in London has been encouraging. Development funding has been awarded to a TEC covering Kingston and Merton; other applications are currently being developed.
§ Mr. GreenwayIs my hon. Friend aware that hundreds of new businesses have been established by the Ealing enterprise agency and that thousands of jobs have been created as a consequence since I founded that body some years ago? Is there a chance that we could now have funding for a TEC in Ealing so that the work of my Ealing enterprise agency, which only operates in the private sector, may be furthered?
§ Mr. EggarI congratulate my hon. Friend on his initiative in the Ealing enterprise agency. I am sure that it has been a significant contributor to the local economy. We understand that representatives from Ealing are participating in the development of a bid for a west London TEC and we anticipate that the application may be submitted by the end of January.
§ Mr. Simon HughesCan the Minister tell us what efforts will be made to ensure that the interests of education, local government and employees are represented on TECs in London and elsewhere?
§ Mr. EggarMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has recently appointed a chief education officer to join the national training task force. A number of chief local government officers and education officers are already represented on different TECs, and we are confident that the education interest will be adequately represented.