HC Deb 26 April 2001 vol 367 cc351-2W
15. Mr. Derek Twigg

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the contribution of colleges of further education to bridging the skills gap. [157922]

Mr. Wicks

Colleges of further education make a very substantial contribution to raising the country's skill levels. FE students achieve some 2.5 million qualifications each year including around a quarter of a million students achieving NVQ level 3 or equivalent. We are also establishing Centres of Vocational Excellence to enable colleges to be more sharply focused on meeting the skills employers need.