§ 34. Mr. PollardTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what action his Department is taking to ensure that learning and skills councils will deliver optimum assistance to small and medium-sized enterprises. [127955]
§ Mr. WicksThe Learning and Skills Council (LSC) will establish priorities for developing the skills of the workforce and targeted strategies for engaging, influencing and meeting the needs of employers, including small and medium sized enterprises. Subject to the passage of the Learning and Skills Bill, the LSC will
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UCAS UK-domiciled applicants and acceptances to Oxford University by previous educational establishment Year of entry 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 Number Percentage1 Number Percentage1 Number Percentage1 Number Percentage1 Number Percentage1 Applicants: Independent 3,399 39 3,501 42 3,393 42 3,361 42 3,416 42 State2 5,210 61 4,765 58 4,644 58 4,645 58 4,671 58 Total 8,609 100 8,266 100 8,037 100 8,006 100 8,087 100 Accepted applicants: Independent 1,424 50 1,494 51 1,500 51 1,477 49 1,431 48 State2 1,424 50 1,454 49 1,442 49 1,567 51 1,533 52 Total 2,848 100 2,948 100 2,942 100 3,044 100 2,964 100 work very closely with the Small Business Service (SBS). In the vast majority of cases, the boundaries of the SBS franchises are coterminous with those of local LSCs to assist with joint working. The local Learning and Skills Councils will contract with the SBS franchises for the provision of LSC—funded workforce development services to small and medium sized enterprises, including advice on Investors in People, Modern Apprenticeships and management development. At national level we will expect the LSC National Council to invite the Chief Executive of the SBS to its meetings, and local LSC Councils will, likewise, be expected to invite a representative of the relevant SBS franchises as observers to their meetings.