To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what arrangements are in place to ensure the technology is available to launch the pilot schemes for the youth opportunity cards in Sunderland during autumn 2006. (82993)

We are currently exploring the options to ensure that the appropriate delivery vehicle is available to deliver the youth opportunity card. There is a great deal of detailed analysis to be done and it is important to take the time to ensure we get it right. The priority is to ensure that the technological solution can deliver the functionality required. We are working to the pilot schemes launch as soon as possible, although we may have to revise the original position of timescale.