Learning and Skills Council

HC Deb 18 December 2000 vol 360 cc27-8W

Mr. Boswell

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the readiness of the Learning and Skills Council's information technology systems for its opening for business in April 2001. [142631]

Mr. Wicks

[holding answer 14 December 2000]: The Learning and Skills Council's information technology (IT) systems are currently under development. A number of IT suppliers have been appointed, including FI Group for systems development and ICL for the support and maintenance of IT equipment. The general approach is to manage the transition to the Learning and Skills Council by making maximum use of existing systems from Training and Enterprise Councils and the Further Education and Funding Council and then gradually phasing in new systems. Some Learning and Skills Council systems, eg for payroll and finances, are already in place. Others will be brought in before the Council becomes fully operational.