§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the(a) cost in the last financial year and (b) purpose is of the Sector Skills Agency; and if he will make a statement. [156588]
§ Mr. Ivan LewisThe Sector Skills Development Agency total expenditure for the year 2002–03, its first year of operation, was £15.95 million.
The Sector Skills Development Agency is responsible for developing a network of Sector Skills Councils, the Skills for Business network whose mission is to promote world-leading skills and productivity performance in all business sectors in all regions and nations of the UK.
I am very encouraged by the progress being made by the Agency in establishing a high quality Skills for Business network. 11 Sector Skills Councils have now been licensed and there are plans to license a further 12 Sector Skills Councils by the summer 2004.