To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many expressions of interest have been received to set up new National Skills Academies; and if he will make a statement. (321820)

The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) received 12 Expressions of Interest (EoI) to set up new National Skills Academies (NSAs), in response to the NSA Fifth Round Prospectus. The bidding round is an independent process led and managed by the LSC and an announcement of the EoIs selected for further development is expected to be made very shortly.

National Skills Academies are successful in shaping skills provision in their sectors and in attracting employer commitment and investment in skills. This further expansion of the NSA network will build on that success, establishing NSAs as the leading employer-led skills delivery, and in taking us a step further towards the aspiration of having at least one NSA for every major sector of the economy as resources allow.