§ Mr. WalterTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to propose amendments to legislation regarding levies to the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board. [76617]
§ Mr. Ivan Lewis:[holding answer 24 October 2002]The Industrial Training Act 1982 gives industrial training boards the power to raise a levy from employers in the industry they cover. The Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) makes annual proposals to me for its levy arrangements, including the rates of levy that it feels are needed to encourage adequate training. The proposals must have the agreement of organisations representing the majority of those employers who pay most of the levy. Parliamentary approval is also required before I can make an order to put them into effect. I have no plans at present to change the legislation.