§ Mr. David ShawTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the panel of senior business figures he appointed last year will be submitting its report; and if he will make a statement. [14230]
The Deputy Prime MinisterThe panel, chaired by Sir Bryan Nicholson, has reported to me and I am today placing copies of its report in the Libraries of the House. I am very grateful to the panel members for the time and energy they have freely devoted to this task. The Government believe strongly in the value of interchange in improving individuals's skills and in fostering co-operation and understanding between the public and private sectors. It whole-heartedly endorses the panel's470W conclusion that interchange between these sectors serves the national interest as well as the interests of individuals and their employers.
The panel has made a wide-ranging set of recommendations designed to bring about an increase in the size of the current interchange programme and improvements in its focus. The Government accept all the panel's recommendations and Departments and agencies are now beginning work on an action plan for implementation. Any new and reinvigorated programme of interchange will, of course, also benefit a wide range of private sector organisations and once a preliminary action plan is drawn up I will be inviting key figures and organisations in the private sector to consider how best they can co-operate.