§ Mr. BlairTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the estimated value of the skillcentre sites sold to Astra Training Services; and whether any estimate was made of their development value.
§ Mr. NichollsAll Skills Training Agency sites were valued prior to the sale, and their potential development value was estimated by commercial property advisers appointed by the Government. Were my right hon. and learned Friend to give an estimate of the value of sites included in the sale package announced earlier this month, (Official Report, 13 February 1990, column 141), this could be deducted from the valuation of all STA sites published in the STA's trading account for 1988–89 (which will be published shortly), to produce an estimate of the value of those sites not included in the sale package. This could have a detrimental effect when these remaining sites are offered for sale.
§ Mr. BlairTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish the calculations that gave rise to the sum of £11 million being paid to Astra in respect of the skillcentres sold to it.
§ Mr. NichollsThe payment of some £11 million to Astra Training Services Limited is the price which emerged from open, competitive bidding and subsequent negotiation. Publication of calculations undertaken by bidders to arrive at their offers would constitute a breach of commercial confidentiality and could disclose bidders' future plans for the business to potential competitors.
§ Mr. BlairTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if there will be any requirement on Astra in the sale conditions to continue training at any site.
§ Mr. NichollsOne of the Government's chief objectives for the sale of the Skills Training Agency (STA) has been to transfer into the private sector as much as possible of the STA's training business. The Secretary of State is satisfied that the aim of Astra Training Services Limited is to run a training business.