§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list(a) the membership and qualifications, (b) the activities and (c) the reports of the Skills Task Force since its inception. [123459]
§ Ms Jowell[holding answer 23 May 2000]: The 19 members of the National Skills Task Force were appointed by the Secretary of State for Education and Employment to serve in a personal capacity. Their names and positions within their respective organisations are listed. The Department does not hold information on members' qualifications.
The Task Force was remitted by the Secretary of State to assist him in developing a National Skills Agenda. Meeting monthly since its launch in April 1998, the group has considered a range of themes concerned with skill demand and supply, and recorded its conclusions and recommendations in its reports. It has overseen an extensive programme of original research which provides the evidence base for its conclusions. The Task Force has undertaken over 40 formal consultation events, some with a particular sectoral or geographical focus, and has held a series of bilateral meetings with the main agencies involved in education and training.
To date, the Task Force has issued three interim policy reports, covering: a preliminary analysis of skill shortages and gaps, vocational skills for young people, key skills, collection and use of skills and labour market information, upskilling adults and learning in the workplace. Other publications so far are the final report from its IT, Communications and Electronics skills strategy group, a recruitment guide for small businesses, and 19 research papers on various topics. All are available in the Library.
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National skills task force: Membership Name Organisation Position Chris Humphries CBE (Chairman) British Chambers of Commerce Director General Llew Aviss Llew Aviss Associates Managing Director Rita Britton Pollyanna (Barnsley) Ltd. Director Tony Dubbins Graphical, Paper and Media Union General Secretary Eric Drewery ABB Ltd. Chief Executive John Edmonds GMB General Secretary Denise Hall BT plc Head of Government, Health and Education Services Sir Ken Jackson AEEU General Secretary Dr. DeAnne Julius Bank of England Member, Monetary Policy Committee Eddie MacIntyre CBE Birmingham College of Food and Tourism Principal Ashwin Mistry OBE Brett and Randall Insurance Brokers Director Terry Morgan BaE System plc HRD Director John V. Palmer Steel Training Ltd. Chairman Peter Rainbird CBE Rainbird Group Ltd. Chairman/Chief Executive Iain Roxburg Coventry City Council Chief Executive and Town Clerk Sharon Studer 3 COM Europe Ltd. Vice President Julia Tinsley Pitman Training Centre Director Adair Turner Confederation of British Industry (formerly) Director General Professor Leslie Wagner Leeds Metropolitan University Vice Chancellor Anne Weinstock CBE Rathbone Cl Chief Executive (currently on secondment to DfEE)