The Department of Business, Innovation and Skills confirmed that D-Day for the CITB has been pushed back to next month as ministers consider plans to transfer the training provider to the private sector.
Leaders of the CITB welcomed the stay of execution following a welter of comment about the organisation’s effectiveness during recent weeks.
Mark Farrar, Chief Executive, CITB-ConstructionSkills said: “We welcome Government’s announcement today that they recognise the value of levies as a way of harnessing employer investment in skills and training, and the view that CITB-ConstructionSkills’ industry led Board should have more flexibility and freedom to determine how best employer funds are invested – to help industry meets its challenges.
“We view this stance as a positive endorsement of the valuable work that we do to make sure that construction has the right skills in the right place at the right time, and of the important contribution our industry makes to UK plc.
“Our industry-led Board had started to look at the strategic options available to us before this announcement, and we look forward to working closely with Government to explore how these freedoms can be secured for the future to help us meet industry needs.”
The fudge over the CITB’s future came as Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude confirmed that 192 quangos will be scrapped.
Other quangos affected
- The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment’s future is still being considered by government.
- The Homes and Communities Agency is to be substantially reformed into a smaller body. More details after spending review.
- Partnerships for Schools’ decision also postponed to future date
- The Thurrock Development Corporation, the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation, and the West Northamptonshire Development Corporation will be abolished and their functions devolved to local government.
- The BRB (Residuary) – which owns around 4,000 old British Rail properties – is also set to be wound up once a programme of asset disposals is complete.
- The Land Registry will remain but be substantially reformed to raise opportunities for private sector involvement.
- British Waterways is to be turned into a charity similar to the National Trust
