§ Mr. HammondTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions his Department has held with the Department for Education and Skills on the possible transfer of responsibilities and funding from learning and skills councils to regional development agencies. [141255]
§ Jacqui SmithI have been asked to reply.
Sponsorship of the Regional Development Agencies transferred to the Department of Trade and Industry in June 2001. The Department has had no discussions with the Department for Education and Skills on the possible transfer of responsibilities and funding from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to Regional Development Agencies (RDAs). It is not the Government's intention to transfer responsibilities and funding from one body to another, as the approach set out in the Government's Skills Strategy published in July this year makes clear. Instead we have made it clear that we expect RDAs and local LSCs to work together.
169WRDAs and local LSCs have been working together in a number of areas on regional skills pilots, which are looking at pooling and co-ordinating funding.
Further, as part of the Skills Strategy, the Government has asked RDAs and their partners to work up proposals for Regional Skills Partnerships which will enable RDAs, local LSCs, and other stakeholders with an interest in skills, to work more effectively together to deliver employment, skills and business support, and to improve flexibility and responsiveness to the skills needs of employers and individuals.