HC Deb 17 December 2001 vol 377 cc66-7W
Mr. Luff

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what responsibility the Construction Industry Training Board has for the landscape contracting sector; and if she will make a statement. [22908]

John Healey

The Construction Industry Training Board is responsible for the provision of practical guidance on the learning, skills and qualification needs related to the following landscaping activities:

  • Laying driveways.
  • Constructing walls.
  • Constructing or repairing swimming pools; playing fields; grounds for sporting or recreational purposes.
  • Restoring land affected by the working of coal by opencast operations.
  • Site preparation in connection with all of these.

Mr. Luff

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what is the eligibility of the landscape contracting sector for payment of the Construction Industry Training Board Levy; and if she will make a statement. [22910]

John Healey

Employers fall within the scope of the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) if their main activity is one of the following:

  • Laying driveways.
  • Constructing walls.
  • Constructing or repairing swimming pools; playing fields; grounds for sporting or recreational purposes.
  • Restoring land affected by the working of coal by opencast operations.
  • Site preparation in connection with all of these.

Such employers would be assessed to levy in respect of their work force except for any employees engaged in "soft" landscaping operations where those activities fall within the definition of agriculture.

Employers whose main activity is "soft" landscaping do not fall within the CITB's scope.