§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions she has had with(a) the Department for Education and Skills, (b) the Learning Skills Council, (c) voluntary sector training providers and (d) other interested parties regarding training and re-training in manufacturing and industry; and if she will make a statement. [139426]
§ Jacqui SmithMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, works closely with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, meeting regularly to discuss areas of joint interest. They jointly lead and chair the Skills Alliance, which brings Government together with key Social and Economic partners, and delivery agencies, including the LSC and SSDA, to drive the implementation of the Government's Skills Strategy.
997WThe Skills Strategy, published in July 2003, aims to ensure that employers have the right skills to support the success of their businesses and organisations, and individuals have the skills they need to be both employable and personally fulfilled.
Through the Government's Manufacturing Strategy we are working closely with industry and other stakeholders to ensure that UK manufacturing has the skills it needs as it increasingly moves to high value, knowledge intensive operations.