To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what estimate has been made of the effect on staffing costs of the (a) skills brokerage service and (b) National Employer Service arising from the expansion of Train to Gain. (174366)

The National Employer Service (NES) is an internal division of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). Any expansion of the NES will have to be managed within the overall reduction in administration costs agreed with this Department as part of the CSR settlement.

LSC and DIUS officials are still developing the detailed plans for the expansion of brokerage, including how larger employers with between 1,000 and 4,999 staff might best be supported. These plans are being developed within the transition to a single brokerage service from April 2009, delivered through Business Link.