Cardiovascular System: Children

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to assist the development of levels of skills in relation to the fashion and textile sector.

Kevin Brennan: The Government are committed to supporting skills development in the fashion and textile sector. Skillfast-UK, which is the Sector Skills Council for the sector, sets the overall strategy for skills and engages directly with employers about their skill needs. Skillfast-UK provides labour market information for employers, and is engaged in the development of qualifications. Skillfast-UK is also running a Women and Work Sector Pathways Initiative project to develop the skills of 600 women in 2009-10 in relation to the fashion and textile sector. The Fashion Retail Academy promotes fashion retail as a career, and delivers a flow of young people to the industry with the fundamental skills required to work in the sector. Government are also providing funding through Sector Compacts to tackle skills shortages in key sectors, including fashion and textiles.