HC Deb 25 July 2000 vol 354 cc565-6W
Mr. Ben Chapman

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the contribution made by Merseyside Training and Enterprise Council to the Mersey Partnership in each of the last five years. [132093]

Mr. Wicks

Merseyside TEC has been an active supporter of the Mersey Partnership since its inception both in cash terms and in Board representation. The TEC has made a financial contribution of £176,000 in each of the last five years.

The TEC Chief Executive has been a Board Member since the Mersey Partnership was established in 1993 and the TEC is also represented at senior manager level on the Mersey Partnership steering group, a membership forum that meets regularly to review progress.

Mr. Ben Chapman

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the likely contribution of the Merseyside Learning and Skills Council to the Mersey Partnership. [132094]

Mr. Wicks

Learning and skills are an integral part of wider economic development and regeneration activities. We will therefore expect the Merseyside Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to work closely with the Mersey Partnership. It will be for the LSC to decide how its resources might support the work of the Partnership.