§ Mr. HunterTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what is his policy in respect of independent companies tendering for public contracts in competition with the existing training centres to manage training, education and enterprise programmes;
(2) what is his policy in respect of independent companies entering into partnership with the existing training centres to manage training, education and enterprise programmes.
§ Mr. Tim SmithResponsibility of the the subject in question has been delegated to the Training and Employment Agency under its chief executive, Mr. J. S. Crozier. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from J. S. Crozier to Mr. Andrew Hunter, dated 5 January 1994.
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me to reply to your questions about policy in respect of independent companies tendering for public contracts in competition, or entering into partnership, with existing Training Centres.
The Training and Employment Agency currently has sufficient contracted capacity to manage and deliver its training programmes. Independent companies and other organisations do operate in competition with Training Centres. There is no bar on such organisatiions entering into parternship with Training Centres for those purposes.
I hope that you find this helpful.