§ Judy MallaberTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department will extend the Strategic Training in Apparel and Textiles programme after June. [72207]
§ Mr. Nicholas BrownThe Strategic Training in Apparel and Textiles (STAT) programme, which was launched in April 2001, was developed as a specific response to a decline experienced in the textile industry. The programme was designed to improve the competitiveness of the industry by helping businesses with staff training and business planning. STAT received a fixed allocation of funding until June 2002, but due to an underspend in the early months, the programme has continued beyond this. There are no plans to extend it any further but the apparel, footwear and textiles sector now receives support through Skillfast-UK, one of five trailblazer Sector Skills Councils launched earlier this year. Skillfast-UK will ensure that people in the apparel and textiles sector continue to receive strategic training and support.
1595WAn interim assessment suggests that the project has achieved many of its goals, with over 1,800 jobs having been secured as a result of the initiative, and around 2,750 people gaining additional skills within the textile industry.