HC Deb 18 July 1989 vol 157 cc158-9W
25. Mr. William Powell

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what role the training and enterprise councils will have in setting up and advising small business; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Cope

Training and enterprise councils will be contractually responsible to the government within their areas for three programmes currently run by the Training Agency area offices—the enterprise allowance scheme, business growth training and small firms counseling—and they will work with local enterprise agencies and others to ensure a coherent network of support for small firms.

36. Mr. Dickens

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many expressions of interest he has received in setting up training and enterprise councils; and if he will make a statement.

45. Mr. Andrew Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what progress has been made in establishing training and enterprise councils; and if he will make a statement.

53. Mr. Tracey

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the number of expressions of interest he has received to set up training and enterprise councils.

75. Mr. Ian Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from employers on training and enterprise councils; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Nicholls

The National Training Task Force has now received 32 applications for training and enterprise council development funding. This is an excellent response. On 12 July my right hon. Friend announced the 19 applications which have so far been approved. These are listed as follows.

List of training and enterprise council areas that have been approved for development funding as at 12 July

South East:

  • Essex
  • Hampshire
  • Hertfordshire
  • Isle of Wight
  • Milton Keynes

South West:

  • Devon and Cornwall
  • Dorset

West Midlands:

  • Birmingham
  • North West Midlands
  • Walsall

Yorkshire and Humberside:

  • Calderdale and Kirklees
  • Sheffield

North West:

  • Cumbria
  • East Lancashire
  • Oldham
  • Rochdale
  • South and East Cheshire

Northern:

  • Teesside
  • Tyneside