§ Mr. Matthew BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what research she has(a) undertaken and (b) evaluated into the potential benefits to trainees of encouraging TECs to award longer-term contracts to training providers; and if she will make a statement; [31216]
(2) what measures she plans to introduce to encourage TECs to extend longer-term contracts to local, regional and national training providers; and if she will make a statement. [31217]
§ Mr. PaiceThere has been no research specifically into this issue.
The precise nature of training and enterprise councils' contracts with their providers is a matter for individual TECs. However, we hope that the greater stability afforded by three-year TEC licensing arrangements will lead TECs to offer greater stability in turn to their providers. Some TECs are already starting to do so. We will be encouraging others, via the TEC National Council, to also consider the opportunities for this.