Basic education needs are responsibility of Government

Commenting on the Public Accounts Committee report "Employers' perspectives on improving skills for employment', Anthony Thompson, Head of Skills at the CBI, said:

"Employers take training and development very seriously and last year alone invested £33bn helping staff adapt to the demands of the hi-tech, high skill economy which globalisation demands.

"But while employers can do more it is clearly the responsibility of Government, not business, to ensure people of all ages have the reading, writing, arithmetic and communication skills to make their way in the world.

"It must make sure that the Learning and Skills Council deliver more for the £6.7bn it receives of taxpayers' money each year while further education colleges must focus on teaching the skills employers really need."

He added: "We're hopeful the Train To Gain programme can deliver results but it must be targeted at those employers not currently training staff who are so often the hardest to reach."
 

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