§ 18. Mr. John EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps his Department takes to ensure that new owners of skill centres are equipped to meet the demands of local industry.
§ Mr. EggarMy Department took professional advice to ensure that all successful offers met the Government's objectives for the sale. The major objective was the sale to the private sector of viable training businesses. Skill centres in the private sector will be more responsive to the needs of local businesses.
§ Mr. EvansWill the Minister confirm that the St. Helens skill centre was disposed of without local staff or 154 local organisations being given an opportunity to bid for it? Does he acknowledge that the new owners have no knowledge of the requirements of industry in St. Helens?
§ Mr. EggarI am surprised at the hon. Gentleman. The St. Helens skill centre has fulfilled a valuable service to the local community. The new purchasers have every intention of ensuring that that continues. The staff always had the facility to make a bid for the skill centre had they so wished. Indeed, the management buy-out scheme through Astra was actually a buy-out by management of 48 skill centres.