§ Baroness Anelay of St Johnsasked Her Majesty's Government:
What are their plans to license a Trailblazer Sector Skills Council to cover the hospitality, travel and tourism sector. [HL3093]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Skills (Baroness Ashton of Upholland)Five Trailblazer Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) were announced in December 2001. The expression of interest from the hospitality and tourism industry was not selected in this instance. However, non-selection as a Trailblazer SSC does not preclude a sector from submitting an expression of interest to form a SSC when a general invitation is extended to employers in the next few weeks.
An expression of interest by employers will be considered by the Sector Skills Development Agency. If this meets initial criteria, then a period of up to six months will be agreed to develop a full SSC proposal. If successful, a SSC licence will be issued. A business adviser has been allocated to advise employers in the hospitality and tourism sector about the preparation of an expression of interest for this sector.