§ Mr. StevensTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in establishing executive agencies in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. BrookeThe training and employment agency became an executive agency of the Department of Economic Development yesterday. It will comprise some 1,700 staff. The agency's principal task will be to implement those training and employment service functions of Government which are the responsibility of the Department. Agency status should ensure greater efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of these functions, including an improved standard of service to customers. It will also emphasise to employers and individuals the value of training. The establishment of the agency coincides with the high priority now to be given to training and development of the work force in the interests of a competitive economy. Performance targets have been set against which the agency's effectiveness and efficiency will be measured. The framework document for the agency makes provision for the chief executive to propose additional management flexibilities in the future where these will contribute to better performance. Copies of the framework document have been placed in the Library and the Vote Office.