§ Mrs. GormanTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has had any recent meetings with the business community to discuss the public/private sector mix of the funding of training schemes; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. EggarI have frequent meetings with the business community at which a number of issues are discussed, including the need for greater investment by employers in training. Training and enterprise councils will have substantial public funds for training and will be well placed to encourage the private sector to contribute.
§ Mr. BlairTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are his criteria for allocating training budgets(a) between different regions in England and Wales, (b) between different areas within each region and (c) between different training providers within each area.
§ Mr. EggarTraining budgets for programmes operated through the Training Agency are allocated between different regions in England and Wales on the basis of historical spending levels and expected requirements in the year for which the allocation is being made. Particular criteria will be different for each individual programme depending upon its aims and objectives.
Allocations of budgets to areas within regions are normally on the same basis as allocations to regions. Budgets for different training providers are established through negotiation and will depend mainly upon the nature, type and scale of provision being delivered.