HC Deb 28 July 1998 vol 317 cc139-40W
Mr. Paice

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the decision by a National Training Organisation recognition panel to exclude the Corrugated Packaging Association from the print industry NTO. [52454]

Dr. Howells

The National Training Organisation Recognition Panel is an independent body appointed to advise the Secretary of State on the recognition of National Training Organisations (NTOs). The Panel comprises representatives of national employers, academics and the TUC, with an independent chair.

The criteria which NTOs must satisfy are designed to ensure a strong well-supported network able to address the education and training needs of their sectors. The Recognition panel was pleased to accept a bid from the Print and Graphic Communication sector but has not been persuaded that a case had been made to include the Corrugated Packaging Association. I understand that the Corrugated Packaging Association is now working to produce evidence of how the education and training needs of the sector fit with those of the printing industry.