§ Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on addressing skills shortages through programmes developed in conjunction with the Learning and Skills Council. [162129]
§ Mr. Ivan LewisThe Skills Strategy White Paper—"21st Century Skills, Realising Our Potential"— set out our ambitious programme to tackle skills shortages. It commits the Government, the Learning and Skills Council and other key partners to a radical strategy of demand-led provision of skills, meeting the needs of employers as expressed through the new Sector Skills Councils, 12 of which are already licensed. New Regional Skills Partnerships will bring together the key players to ensure specific regional, skills shortages are addressed, and the whole strategy is overseen at a national level by the Skills Alliance.