[holding answer 26 February 2007]: For those staff on agenda for change terms and conditions of service, the knowledge and skills framework provides staff at all levels with a cyclical review process linked to pay progression which enables knowledge and skills gaps to be identified. This process underpins training and development activity.
We also gave £180 million pump-priming funding to strategic health authorities (SHAs) over three years from 2002-03 to 2005-06 to support staff in the lowest pay bands and career grades to take-up of National Vocational Qualifications and Learning Accounts. Following this pump-priming we devolved further funding responsibility to SHAs in 2006-07.