HC Deb 16 December 1993 vol 234 cc855-6W
Dr. Wright

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the minimum and maximum numbers of possible board members of training and enterprise councils; what guidelines he has issued concerning the composition of these boards; and what specific guidance has been given on how many board members should be (i) from ethnic minorities, (ii) women, (iii) from the local business sector, (iv) from local authorities and (v) from trade unions.

Miss Widdecombe

A training and enterprise council board must have at least nine directors and not more than 15, excluding the chief executive. The TEC operating agreement sets out the broad framework for TEC boards and specifies that two thirds of the directors must come from the private sector. The remaining third may be drawn from education, economic development, trade unions, voluntary organisations and the public sector. More generally, the Department expects a TEC board to reflect the composition of the local area it serves.

Mr. Meacher

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of chairpersons and board members of training and enterprise councils in England and Wales.

Miss Widdecombe

The total number of board members for the 75 training and enterprise councils for England is 1,015—75 of whom are chairmen. Information for the TECs in Wales is for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales to reply.