§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment in establishing boundaries for local Learning and Skills Councils, how he will ensure that the boundaries fit with local travel-to-work and travel-to-study patterns and are within regional development agency/Government office boundaries in cases where local travel-to-work and travel-to-study patterns cross the RDA/Government office boundaries. [90086]
§ Mr. MudieWe have asked the regional development agencies (RDAs) and the London Development Partnership for advice on the boundaries of the local Learning and Skills Councils within each region. In drawing up their advice, we have proposed a set of526W principles which RDAs need to follow. These include that boundaries must fit within RDA/Government office boundaries and should take into account best fit with travel-to-work and travel-to-study areas. They should also be consistent with other key local economic or social units and partnerships—especially with local authorities. We will take decisions on boundaries on the basis of these criteria and the advice of RDAs.
§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what will be the maximum number of local Learning and Skills Councils in each regional development agency/Government office boundary consistent with the Government's objectives of having no more than 50 such councils nationally. [90064]
§ Mr. MudieWe have asked regional development agencies (RDAs) and the London Development Partnership to make proposals on the boundaries for local Learning and Skills Councils by the end of September. We have not set a maximum number for each region, but have set some key principles which will underpin the RDAs' considerations and our decisions on the boundaries. These include a minimum residential population of 0.5 million.