Regional Employment and Skills Action

HC Deb 18 July 2003 vol 409 cc754-5W

Mr. Boswell

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on(a) the introduction and (b) the updating of Frameworks for Regional Employment and Skills Action. [126793]

Mr. Ivan Lewis

Regional Development Agencies were asked to lead on creating Frameworks for Regional Employment and Skills Action in each region and to have them in place by October 2002. The Frameworks were initiated by this Department, the DTI and the Department of Work and Pensions and enable key partners and agencies to agree shared priorities and actions to address skills and employment issues at regional level. A Regional Employment and Skills Forum made up of all the key partners and agencies has been established in each region and is responsible for overseeing the production, implementation, monitoring and updating of each Framework.