Sector Skills Councils

Stephen Hesford
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what progress the Government are making in establishing sector skills councils. [121744]

Mr. Ivan Lewis
Good progress is being made in establishing Sector Skills Councils (SSCs). To date there are two fully licensed SSCs and a further 18 in development including the five trailblazer SSCs. I anticipate that the full network of around 25 SSCs will be in place by May 2004.