HC Deb 01 March 1988 vol 128 cc538-9W
70. Mr. Bellingham

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what further plans he has for encouraging enterprise agencies.

Mr. Cope

The Government remain firmly committed to the encouragement of local enterprise agencies (LEAs). In the long term, the future of LEAs, which are essentially autonomous private sector-led organisations, must rest primarily with their boards and private sector supporters. This Department, through its local enterprise agency grant scheme is continuing to encourage the development in England of a network of viable, private sector-led LEAs capable of surviving without specific Government funding beyond the scheme's five-year duration. The Government also support training for LEA staff and promote broader awareness of LEAs through its grant to Business in the Community.