To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet members of the Trades Union Congress Council to discuss the adult training scheme; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no present plans to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement on the progress of the adult training initiative.

Preparation for the launch of employment training are proceeding very well indeed. There has been a very good response from organisations bidding to deliver training places with over twice as many bids as are needed. The Training Commission will be signing contracts with providers during July and the programme will come into operation as planned on 5 September.