HC Deb 26 February 2002 vol 380 cc1222-3W
Shona McIsaac

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how many day care providers, broken down by type of provider, there were in(a) north-east Lincolnshire and (b) north Lincolnshire in each year from 1997 to 2001; [35317]

(2) how many day care places broken down by type of providers there were in (a) north-east Lincolnshire and (b) north Lincolnshire in each year from 1997 to 2001. [35318]

Margaret Hodge

The available information is shown in the tables.

Latest figures on day care facilities in England were published by my Department in the Statistical Bulletin "Children's Day Care facilities at 31 March 2001 (08/01)" in October 2001, a copy of which is available from the Library. An electronic copy of this publication is also available on my Department's website (www.dfes.gov.uk/ statistics).

2002 and therefore has not undertaken any reviews of industry sectors. My Department has not defined the "utilities sector" and is looking to employers to bring forward proposals for sectors that meet the licensing standard and make sense to their industries. A Business Adviser has been allocated to work closely with interested employers to develop their proposals. Any formal expression of interest by employers to form an SSC in the utilities sector will be considered by the SSDA.

Mr. Boswell

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the implementation of sector skills councils and the arrangements to secure comprehensive coverage of all industrial, commercial, public and voluntary sectors of employment. [37303]

John Healey

Following our announcement of Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) in October 2001 we have made good progress in implementing this important UK skills and productivity initiative. A development guide was published in November 2001 that sets out the licensing standard for an SSC. Five Trailblazer SSCs have been selected and will be licensed very shortly. The Chair of the Sector Skills Development Agency (SSDA) has been appointed. Other key appointments will be made in the next few weeks. The SSDA will begin work in April 2002 and will consider further proposals from employers to form SSCs.

Sector coverage of the SSC network will depend on employers coming forward with proposals that meet the licensing standard. A fundamental principle is that SSCs will be licensed only in sectors where employers come forward to provide influential leadership to significantly improve skills and productivity performance. The SSDA will be responsible for ensuring that essential industry, business and occupational sector-related work is delivered in support of employers and individuals in sectors without an SSC.