Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to (a) support Local Skills Improvement Plans and (b) prevent duplication of those plans with Skills England.

Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs) support the department’s aim to make technical education and training more responsive to local labour market and employer needs.

Since autumn 2022, the designated employer representative bodies (ERBs) leading the LSIPs have engaged thousands of local businesses regarding their skills needs. The resultant LSIPs are a valuable source of information for local skills deliverers, employers and stakeholders, and will provide important intelligence for the newly-established Skills England.

Skills England will work closely with regional stakeholders, including the designated ERBs that cover all of England across the 38 LSIP areas.