To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many organisations provided skills brokerage services to employers under contracts with the Learning and Skills Council in 2007-08. (254348)

In 2007-08 the Leaning and Skills Council contracted with 17 organisations to provide skills brokerage services to employers.

From April 2009 the Train to Gain skills brokerage service will be integrated with Business Link to provide an all-in-one service for employers as part of the Government's Business Support Simplification Programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills (a) how many and (b) what proportion of people who undertook Skills for Life training while on employer training pilot-funded provision have achieved qualifications. (254390)

[holding answer 5 February 2009]: The employer-training pilot ran from 2002 to 2006. In total, there were 45,300 Skills for Life learners on employer-training pilots (ETP). Of those learners, 32,500 (72 per cent.) achieved their qualification. This information is provided by the ETP database administered by the Learning and Skills Council.