From the DfEE press release announcing the publication of 'Learning to Succeed'-

Education and Employment Secretary David Blunkett today announced proposals for a new Learning and Skills Council to spearhead high standards and boost value for money in post 16 learning. The Council will have a budget of around £5 billion to provide education and training for over five million students over the age of 16.

The White Paper, Learning to Succeed, sets out proposals for:

a national Learning and Skills Council to provide coherence and reduce bureaucracy, with 40-50 local Learning and Skills Councils to develop local plans;

a strengthened strategic role for business in education and training influencing a £5bn budget, compared to the current £1billion spent by Training and Enterprise Councils;

Employers to have the largest single input into the Learning and Skills Councils;

a radical new youth programme, Connexions, including a new youth support service modernising the Careers Service and improving links with the Youth Service, with dedicated personal advisers for young people;

greater co-operation between sixth forms and colleges, whilst preserving real-terms funding for popular sixth forms;

establishing an independent, effective inspectorate covering all work-related learning and training, and a new role for Ofsted in taking responsibility for inspection of provision for 16-19 year olds in school and colleges with both inspectorates working together on the inspection of colleges for this age group;

transferring responsibility for work-based learning for unemployed adults to the employment service to provide the same seamless approach developed in the New Deal for under 25s; and

delivering substantial savings of at least £50 million by cutting wasteful bureaucracy and streamlining programme delivery.