§ 32. Dr. StoateTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he is taking to ensure that the United Kingdom has a highly skilled work force. [18783]
§ Mr. Andrew SmithMuch is already being done to address the needs for a skilled work force through the Government's current programme of work. We announced recently our plans to develop a national skills agenda and the setting up of a Skills Task Force and a Skills Unit to identify where skills gaps exist and how they should be best addressed. The New Deal for young unemployed people includes training to a certified standard in each of its options.