Skills Training Agency

HC Deb 13 March 1990 vol 169 c216W

Mr. Amos

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a further statement about the sale of the Skills Training Agency.

Mr. Eggar

Further to the statement that my right hon. and learned Friend made to the House on 13 February 1990,Offical Report, column 141, about the sale of the Skills Training Agency (STA), I can announce that terms of sale have now been agreed with the Training Business for the business located at Lambeth skill centre.

The offer from the Training Business was considered against the Government's objectives for the sale, which were placed in the Vote Office on 13 February, and will involve a payment of some £0.8 million from the Government to the Training Business: this reflects the need for restructuring and reforming the business at the skill centre. There will be no loss to the Government from the transaction compared with the alternative of closing the skill centre.

This brings the total number of skill centres businesses which will be sold up to 52. There will be no more sales of training businesses.