§ Ms ShortTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment which TECs are participating in the assessment and guidance credits initiative; what are the objectives of the programme; what will happen to the schemes in 1994–95; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThe assessment and guidance credits initiative, now known as skill choice, is starting in 15 training and enterprise councils or local enterprise companies. In England these are:
- AZTEC (Kingston/Merton/Wandsworth)
- Birmingham
- CAMBSTEC (Central and South Cambridgeshire)
- CEWTEC (Chester/Ellesmere Port/Wirral)
- Coventry and Warwickshire
- Dorset
- Greater Nottingham
- Hampshire
- Hertfordshire
- Northumberland
- South and East Cheshire
- Tyneside
- Wiltshire.
In Wales, the initiative is operating in:
- North West Wales TEC (TARGED)
- and Scotland in:
- Enterprise Ayrshire.
Skill choice aims to enable individuals, predominantly those in employment, to take greater control of decision making about their future careers by developing effective and comprehensive local information and guidance services, including the assessment and accreditation of prior learning; and putting individual people in the driving seat by offering credits, which they can use to buy the guidance and assessment services of their choice.
The 15 TECs or LECs are participating in the initiative over the two years 1993–94 and 1994–95. If guidance and assessment credits prove successful and cost effective, the Government intend to make them available across the country.