You are here: Parliament home page > Parliamentary business > Publications and Records > Hansard > Commons Debates > Commons Debates by date > Commons Debates - previous sessions > Bound Volume Hansard - Written Answers
Previous Section Index Home Page

Training and Enterprise Councils

Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what progress is being made with the arrangements to introduce three-year licences for TECs, and if she will make a statement. [3234]

Mr. Paice: I am pleased to be able to announce today that 13 training and enterprise councils have completed the process of meeting the rigorous standards we set for the award of three-year licences. The licences will be effective from April 1996. The TECs are:


A number of other TECs are close to completing the process. I expect to make shortly further announcements of TECs to be awarded licences from April 1996.

This announcement brings the total number of licensed TECs to 42, over half of the TEC network in England. Our expectation has always been that the introduction of licensing for all England TECs would take until 1997.

Youth Training

Mr. McAvoy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assistance is given to unemployed young people or those in part-time employment seeking to establish a co-operative run enterprise as a means of creating permanent full-time employment in response to market demand. [1789]

Mr Raymond S. Robertson: I have been asked to reply.

In Scotland, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise are responsible for the business start-up scheme, which assists unemployed people to become self-employed. In 1995-96, over £11 million has been allocated to this scheme. Resources are not earmarked

28 Nov 1995 : Column: 687

specifically for the establishment of co-operative run enterprises, but neither is support precluded. Assistance may also be provided through the main programme, training for work, which helps long-term unemployed

28 Nov 1995 : Column: 688

people into work. Some local enterprise companies provide financial support, via regional councils, to assist individuals and organisations, particularly in areas of high unemployment, to set up co-operatives.

28 Nov 1995 : Column: 687