HC Deb 27 February 2004 vol 418 c587W
Mr. Laws

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the(a) cost in the last financial year and (b) purpose is of the Sector Skills Agency; and if he will make a statement. [156588]

Mr. Ivan Lewis

The Sector Skills Development Agency total expenditure for the year 2002–03, its first year of operation, was £15.95 million.

The Sector Skills Development Agency is responsible for developing a network of Sector Skills Councils, the Skills for Business network whose mission is to promote world-leading skills and productivity performance in all business sectors in all regions and nations of the UK.

I am very encouraged by the progress being made by the Agency in establishing a high quality Skills for Business network. 11 Sector Skills Councils have now been licensed and there are plans to license a further 12 Sector Skills Councils by the summer 2004.

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