To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what funding his Department has provided to the National Skills Academy for Nuclear since its creation; and what funding his Department plans to give to the academy in (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11. (289792)

The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) manages the National Skills Academy (NSA) programme on behalf of BIS and leads the NSA selection and appraisal process. Once a NSA has been approved, and subject to LSC funding priorities, NSAs can draw on funding from the LSC for three years, matched by contributions from business. After this the NSA is expected to be self sustainable through financial investment from employers and income from the NSA’s activities.

The NSA for Nuclear was officially launched by Government on the 31 January 2008, following approval of their three year business plan to take the NSA to the end of its development period in 2011.

The total LSC funding to date (including £504,431 paid so far this year) is £6,718,904. In 2009/10 the total planned funding (including that already provided) is £1,419,200 with £43,288 planned funding for 2010-11.

The NSA has also submitted applications for capital funding to the LSC for 2009-10 and 2010-11, which are currently being assessed.