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Vocational Training

Answer

I have been asked to reply.The Government published their skills strategy ““Skills for Sustainable Growth”” alongside ““Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth”” in November 2010. The documents together describe the principles, objectives and direction of our reforms of the skills system. Since then we have greatly expanded apprenticeships places, introduced major local freedoms and flexibilities in skills provision placing learners, employers and communities in the driving seat, and introduced the Growth and Innovation Fund (GIF). The GIF will help businesses to act collectively to develop effective solutions to skills barriers that are hampering their growth potential.Apprenticeships are at the heart of the system we are building, and we are well on course to deliver at least 250,000 more apprenticeships over the next four years compared with the previous Administration's plans. Our ambition is that the UK should have a world class skills base that is socially inclusive, supports growth and provides a consistent source of competitive advantage. ““Skills for Sustainable Growth”” and ““Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth”” can be accessed at"www.bis.gov.uk/skillsforgrowth"On 1 December, this Department published ““New Challenges, New Chances”” describing the Government's strategy for further education and skills for the rest of this Parliament. I wrote to all MPs on 5 December setting out our reform plan and how it will build on the successes already achieved, based on the principles underpinning ““Skills for Sustainable Growth””. It will also take into account the responses to our ““New Challenges, New Chances”” consultation which can be accessed at"www.bis.gov.uk/consultations"As a model of public sector reform, we are simultaneously reducing legislative burdens and removing centrally dictated restraints to empower learners to shape the skills system, from basic skills provision through to the higher level skills most critical to growth. Copies of all the documents referred to are available in the Libraries of the House.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

84121; 537 c1095-6W

Session

2010-12

Subjects

Training

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk