Member

In response to the point made by the noble Lord, Lord Aberdare, about co-ordination, the appointment of the leadership team and Phil Smith the chair—whom noble Lords were able to meet and question—shows the quality of the leadership. With Sir David Bell as the deputy chair, this is an organisation which has enormous credibility and experience in cross-government work, supported by the emphasis the Prime Minister has placed on the significance of skills and Skills England. I hope that, through my efforts as Skills Minister, we will ensure that Skills England takes its place as the authoritative voice for skills, not just across government but across the country, in partnership with employers and trade unions and in every region of the country.