§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to transfer the functions currently undertaken by training and enterprise councils to democratically accountable bodies. [4147]
§ Dr. HowellsTraining and Enterprise Councils (TECs) are accountable through Ministers to Parliament under the terms of their contracts with the Government. They are also required to follow the "Framework for the Local Accountability of Training and Enterprise Councils in England and Wales" published by the TEC National Council following consultations with government and other interested parties. We will work with the TEC movement to review how this Framework is working and to secure improvements in the way TECs account to their local communities.