I have been asked to reply.
Further to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Skills, to the hon. Member's question 168417 on 26 November 2007, Official Report, column 271W, the legacy of our investment for the games goes beyond more houses and better transport. It must strengthen London's skills base and boost job prospects for London's residents in a lasting way. To help young people to gain skills and improve their employment prospects, the ODA has publicly committed to get at least 2,000 people into trainee apprenticeships and work placements (up to 2012) at the Olympic park and other venues that the ODA is working on or building. The first phase is the training centre at Eton Manor fields based at the Olympic site.
In addition, the Major Contractors Group, which represents some of the UK's largest construction companies, has pledged:
to make available 1,000 job placements to young people enrolled on FE construction courses;
to work with the Construction Youth Trust to sponsor 50 undergraduates to obtain a construction-related degree;
make available 1,000 training placements for local people over 21 who do not qualify for apprenticeships.
London LSC is also signed up to a target of 4,000 public sector apprenticeships by 2012, and is working closely with the Mayor's office to increase the number of apprenticeships across the GLA family (police, fire service, TFL). The LSC is also funding a range of community engagement activities to inspire people about the games and raise their aspirations. This includes:
Funding a series of theatre tours to visit 130 schools across London to raise awareness of ‘Olympic opportunities’ for young people;
Building an Olympic/Paralympics element into the training of London teachers;
Providing skills advice and materials for a series of road-show events throughout 2007-08 to visit communities across all 33 London boroughs.
In total, London Learning and Skills Council is planning to spend a further £7 million in 2008/09, up from the previous years £5 million which will contribute to improving both the volume and quality of work based learning in the four key sectors: construction, sport; audio-visual and customer service. In addition, the LSC will provide a further £12.2 million for demand-led investment in training at the NSA centre on the Olympics site in the period between now and 2012.