To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills whether he has made an assessment of the skills base in seaside towns in England compared to the national average. (262996)

The Department for Communities and Local Government published ‘England's Seaside Towns—a Benchmarking Study’ in November 2008. The report presents a range of statistical evidence on socio-economic conditions including skills and qualifications in seaside towns and compares figures with regional and English averages.

The Department for Innovation, Universities, and Skills is represented on the cross-Government working group which commissioned this report. A copy of the report has been placed in the House Libraries.