§ Mr. FormanTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the Civil Service college.
§ Mr. WaldegraveWe have now completed an evaluation of the Civil Service College as a next steps executive agency and considered its future. I have today placed a copy of the evaluation report in the Libraries of both Houses.
The college has had four very successful years since becoming an agency in 1989. Agency status within central Government has helped the college to provide top quality senior management and professional training focused on the particular needs of the civil service at a time of considerable change. We have concluded that this remains the best approach for a further period.
We shall continue to seek improvements in the college's operation and will review it again in four years under the normal procedures for executive agencies. In particular, we have decided to put the college on to a fully commercial footing by phasing out the central payment of £1.8 million a year from the Office of Public Service and Science. From 1995–96 the college will be required fully to cover its costs by revenue from its operations. In addition we are mounting a study of the college's suitability for trading fund status.
We are now reviewing the framework document of the college. When this is complete, it will then be presented to Parliament in the usual way.