§ Baroness Davidasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why the Open Tech has started management education courses, funded by the Manpower Services Commission at around £2 million, when the Open University launched last October management education courses with the help of a £0.25 million loan from Barclays Bank at reasonable rates of return; and whether it is their policy to duplicate effort in this way.
The Minister of State, Privy Council Office, and Minister for the Arts (The Earl of Gowrie)Under its remit, the Manpower Services Commission's Open Tech programme funds a small number of projects on aspects of supervisory management to meet specific training needs. All proposals under the programme are carefully assessed to ensure they do not duplicate other provision, including that of the Open University.