§ Ms KellyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the(a) benefits and (b) costs of merging TECs and chambers of commerce. [9683]
§ Dr. HowellsIn June 1995, this Department commissioned Pieda plc to evaluate the impact of mergers between training and enterprise councils and chambers of commerce. Pieda reported its findings to the Department earlier this year. It concluded that the merged organisations the study looked at
appear to be well on the way to creating a much stronger and more influential business led organisation in the areas concerned.The study did not identify any major disbenefits of merger.The report will be published on 11 August and a copy put in the House of Commons Library.