§ 42. Mr. Macleanasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action his Department is taking to deal with the problem of skill shortages in the information technology industry.
§ Mr. ButcherThe information technology skill shortages committee, which I chair, was set up last year to look into this problem and hopes to issue its final report shortly. This will summarise progress made so far and make further recommendations for action. An important result of the committee's work has been the establishment by industry of the Information Technology Skills Agency, under the aegis of the CBI Education Foundation, to interpret industry's needs to the higher education system and to co-ordinate industrial support. In addition, the Department of Trade and Industry is contributing £12.5 million to the £43 million which the Government have allocated for the provision of additional higher education placed in engineering and technology over the next three years.