§ Mr. Michael BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a further statement on the development of school compacts.
§ Mr. CopeMost of the 30 applications for compact operational funding in England and Scotland have now been approved. I expect that all 30 will begin full operation this September. In addition, invitations have gone to the 24 urban programme areas in England that are not already covered by compacts to apply for funding for development work. I hope to be able to announce those areas awarded development funding during the summer.
294WMy right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales are considering how best to take forward the further development of compacts.
I continue to be impressed, not just by the very positive response from both business and education to this initiative but also by the hard work which local partnerships have put into establishing compacts in their areas.