HC Deb 29 March 1988 vol 130 cc431-2W
80. Mr. Jacques Arnold

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a further statement on the development of enterprise agencies.

Mr. Cope

Local enterprise agencies are independent private sector-led organisations and their future development must rest primarily with their boards and private sector sponsors. Through the local enterprise agency grant scheme, this Department is encouraging the development in England of a network of viable LEAs capable after five years (the scheme's duration) of surviving without specific Government funding. I set out in a reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Sherwood (Mr. Stewart) Official Report, 8 March, at column 117, certain modifications which have been made recently to increase the scheme's effectiveness in achieving its original objectives.