Lord Leitch has told MPs that failures in electronic, electronic engineering and management skills are damaging UK competiveness.

Giving evidence on his report on his Review of Skills to a Commons Committee Lord Leitch said that the lack of proper development of such skills was a key problem for economic performance.

Questioned at the all party Innovation, Universities, Science and Skill Committee Lord Leitch expressed concern that his report "Prosperity for all in the World Class Economy - world class skills" had yet to be acted on by the government.

"We have sectoral skills problems. One of those is management skills - especially in manufacturing. Another is those needed to develop electronics and electronic engineering. Not to mention IT and ICT skills,” said Lord Leitch.

And the issue is not simply creating more graduates. “Qualifications are not the same as skills,” said Lord Leitch.

“We need proper training across the range of skills that accepts that having a degree is not the same as having a skill. There are many sectors where this applies including electronics and electronic engineering which are crucial to the UK's economic future,” he said.

Lord Leitch recognised the Government’s achievements in this area but said there is more to be done on the basis of his report. 

“There are key sectors were we need to boost skills and the government must take action,” said Lord Leitch.

Lord Leitch told the IUSS committee that while the case for further government action on the basis of his report was "compelling and urgent" he was "optimistic" that the rights steps would be taken.

But Tory Shadow Innovation, Universities and Skills Secretary David Willetts said: “The number of young people not in education, employment or training has risen to a million and a quarter. We urgently need to focus on real apprenticeships that employers value, and raising standards in our schools, so that people are able to fulfil their aspirations.”