§ Mr. GapesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on plans to increase employment opportunities in the Thames Gateway area. [123371]
§ Ms JowellThe Government attach great priority to the Thames Gateway. We want the area to become a hub for development and regeneration. We have therefore announced plans to establish a Strategic Partnership and Excellence Body, designed to give a new momentum to development in the area and to ensure that regeneration and economic expansion can be delivered in a sustainable way.
In the light of the job losses announced by Ford in Dagenham, my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and the Secretary of State for Education and Employment have announced a 10 point plan for the regeneration of the area. The Employment Service already has a presence on the site through its job shop. There will also be a role for the TECs initially, 347W and subsequently the Learning and Skills Councils, for Business Links and then for the Small Business Services. We are in discussions with Ford about the wider implications for local businesses and for those in the supply chain.