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Machinery of government changes

5 February 2008

In a written ministerial statement to Parliament it was today announced that Government Skills, the Sector Skills Council (SCC) for central government, will move from the Cabinet Office to the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) from 1 April 2008.

Welcoming the move, Ian Watmore, Permanent Secretary for DIUS, said:

‘Government Skills covers the development needs of approximately 825,000 central government employees and Armed Forces personnel. It has a vital remit in equipping public servants with the skills and training they need to build successful and rewarding careers, while delivering value to the taxpayer. DIUS is proud to be working closely with Government Skills and other Sector Skills Councils to address workforce development needs and promote diversity.’

Andrew McDonald, Chief Executive of Government Skills, said:

‘Government Skills has a big, stretching agenda ahead – driving up skills levels across our sector. This move positions us well to meet that challenge: we will be working alongside ministers and officials in DIUS while retaining our close links with the Cabinet Office and our stakeholders across the UK.’

Notes to editors

1. Government Skills was licensed as an SSC in January 2006 and is one of 25 SSCs charged with driving forward the skills agenda and representing the views of employers.
   
   
2. Government Skills covers the skills and development of over half a million Home civil servants, 26,000 Northern Ireland civil servants, an estimated 65,000 in executive non-departmental public bodies and almost 200,000 Armed Forces personnel. The small team of learning and development, qualifications specialists and project and stakeholder managers work with employers to develop strategic solutions to common skills issues.