§ Mr. ClappisonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the optimum mix of delivery of the Connexions Service through private, voluntary and public partners as referred to in paragraph 7.12 of Connexions: the best start in life for every young person. [122454]
§ Mr. WicksThe Connexions Service: prospectus and specification, which was published on 4 May, invites prospective partner organisations to come together to agree how the Connexions Service can operate most 183W effectively in their area and to produce outline Partnership Proposals. Partnerships will need to ensure that the mix of public, private and voluntary sector provision is appropriate to the needs of the particular area and that these decisions are based on the quality of existing provision. Partnerships will need to demonstrate in their Business Plans to be produced in the autumn that public, private and voluntary sector providers have been given a fair opportunity in each area to offer relevant services, on the basis of the quality of existing provision. The Connexions Service National Unit, through its assessment and approval of partnership Business Plans and subsequent monitoring of service delivery, will ensure that an appropriate mix of public, private and voluntary sector providers are involved.