§ Mr. LeightonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of trainees on skillnet courses in London Docklands achieved recognised qualifications.
§ Mr. MoynihanSkillnet is an independent charity largely funded by the London Docklands Development Corporation. I understand that it has not been the practice to analyse the success rate of students sponsored by skillnet with reference to their achievement of recognised qualifications.
Skillnet provides a wide range of training and counselling services aimed at helping some 5,000 local people each year to find work. Information about individuals accepted into all forms of training and counselling is routinely collected.
As part of these activities skillnet funded 1,370 formal training places in the last financial year, almost entirely through other institutions. These courses are as much directed at securing training leading to early employment, or at basic foundation level, or in preparation for further education, as at obtaining recognised qualifications.
In common with other funders of training, skillnet experience difficulty in regularly monitoring the results of such training courses for individuals, but a survey was undertaken recently. I am arranging for copies of the results to be placed in the Library of the House. Procedures for monitoring the performance of skillnet-assisted trainees are currently under review.