§ Jane GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures her Department is taking to ensure the training of heating engineers and gas fitters to facilitate a higher take-up of condensing boilers. [123673]
§ Alan JohnsonI have been asked to reply.
The Learning and Skills Council is working with the Energy Efficiency Partnership and the Gas and Water Industry National Training Organisation (GWINTO) 889W to develop a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) unit on Energy Efficiency and Condensing Boilers which can be incorporated into current qualifications. The unit is expected to be available generally from September 2004.
In parallel with this activity, they are also taking steps to further develop their provider base to facilitate the delivery of the anticipated demand for the new unit.