§ Mrs. GormanTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to deregulate and privatise his Department's employment and youth training initiatives; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. EggarMy aim is to ensure that the private sector has a leading role in training and enterprise programmes and that burdens on business are kept to a minimum. I have recently completed the sale of the Skills Training Agency and announced plans that private voluntary bodies will take the place of five of the statutory industry training boards. I am now establishing a network of training and enterprise councils (TECs) which will be private sector companies operating as employer-led partnerships in their local communities. TECs will run training and enterprise programmes, including ET and youth training, previously administered by the Department of Employment. TEC contracts will allow considerable flexibility to adapt programmes to meet the needs of local employers and individuals.