HC Deb 20 June 1989 vol 155 cc107-9W
17. Mr. Corbett

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how he intends to monitor the efficiency of the training and enterprise councils.

Mr. Fowler

Each of the training and enterprise councils will operate under a contract with my Department which will set out the specific targets that they are to achieve. Their progress in meeting these targets will be monitored by the Training Agency.

110. Mrs. Ann Winterton

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a further statement on the role of training and enterprise councils in the provision of employment training.

Mr. Cope

Training and enterprise councils will deliver and develop employment training, YTS and other Government programmes and tailor these programmes to meet local needs. They will also stimulate enterprise and economic growth in the locality and provide practical help to local employers wishing to improve their own training efforts.

99. Mr. Aspinwall

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the role of training and enterprise councils in the provision of small business counselling.

Mr. Cope

As TECs are established in England they will contract with the Training Agency to take responsibility for the counselling currently provided through the Training Agency's small firms service along with the appropriate share of the counselling budget. Each TEC will decide whether counselling will be provided through direct contracts with counsellors or through local enterprise agencies or other appropriate organisations. In Wales counselling for small firms will continue to be provided by the Welsh Development Agency.

95. Sir Marcus Fox

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the role of training and enterprise councils in the provision of YTS.

Mr. Cope

Training and enterprise councils will have responsibility for the operation of YTS in their area, within the framework set out by the Secretary of State for Employment. The councils will deliver the Government's guarantee of a training place for all young people under the age of 18 who cannot find a job, and help to achieve the aim that every young person should have access to relevant education or training leading to higher levels of attainment, nationally recognised qualifications and to a job.

72. Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many training and enterprise councils have been established; and what progress has been made in attracting two thirds board membership from the private sector.

Mr. Cope

Twenty-two applications have been received by the national training task force which is reviewing these proposals and will forward its recommendations to me. I will announce which TECs have been awarded development funding shortly thereafter.

The response from private sector employers has been excellent.

36. Mr. McFall

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when the handbook for the training and enterprise councils will be published; and whether there will he an opportunity for the public to suggest amendments.

Mr. Cope

A training and enterprise council (TEC) prospectus was published in early March and circulated widely. A draft TEC operating manual for England and Wales was published in mid-April, aimed specifically at people intending to run a TEC, with the intention that it would be expanded and updated as TECs evolve. A copy of the manual was placed in the Library and copies are available to other interested parties on request. The Training Agency will take into account any comments received.

26. Mr. Tom Clarke

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

49. Mr. Soames

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which areas have put forward proposals for establishing training and enterprise councils; and if he will make a statement.

94. Mr. Gill

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will report on progress in establishing the first training and enterprise councils; and if he will make a statement.

98. Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the progress being made in establishing training and enterprise councils.

105. Mr. Evennett

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many expressions of interest his Department has received from groups of employers wishing to form training and enterprise councils; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Cope

Twenty-two applications have been received by the national training task force, which is reviewing these proposals and will forward its recommendations to me. This is an excellent response. The table lists the areas from which applications have been received.

List of TECS that have applied for development funding:

  • Oldham
  • Dorset
  • Warwickshire
  • Essex
  • Rochdale
  • Tyneside
  • North West Midlands
    • 109
  • Sheffield
  • Calderdale and Kirklees
  • Teesside
  • Kingston
  • Devon and Cornwall
  • Birmingham
  • East Lancashire
  • Walsall
  • Milton Keynes
  • Hertfordshire
  • Isle of Wight
  • Hampshire
  • North, West and South Norfolk
  • South and East Cheshire
  • Cumbria