Training and Enterprise Councils (Hansard, 26 January 1995)

§ Ms Abbott
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what criteria his Department employs for assessing the effectiveness of a TEC's equal opportunities action plan; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Paice
The training and enterprise councils are contractually required to have an equal opportunities strategy which must include a statement and a plan of implementation and assessment. TECs are assessed according to their action plans for each identified target 365W group; the provision and funding for each group; and the TECs' partners in delivering the provision.
TECs are being helped by the Department and the TEC advisory group on equal opportunities to develop their equal opportunities strategy. The effectiveness of the strategy will be a requirement for TECs to receive a three-year operating licence.

§ Ms Ruddock
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 19 January,Official Report, column 619, regarding creditors of the South Thames training and enterprise council, how many providers of training and business support programmes within the area covered by the South Thames TEC have not been issued with letters of comfort; and for what reasons.

§ Mr. Paice
The only providers of training and business services, contracted with South Thames training and enterprise council to deliver initiatives funded by the Department, which have not been issued with letters of comfort, are providers of employer investment in people services. I understand from the receiver that there are 33 employer investment in people providers contracted to South Thames TEC. The Department's main aim is to secure the continuation of training for individuals and therefore providers of such programmes have received assurance about funding. The employer investment in people programme is directed towards organisations and has not therefore been covered by a letter of comfort.

§ Ms Abbott
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of training and enterprise councils has produced a mandatory action plan in accordance with the TEC's operating agreement clause 8; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Paice
All training and enterprise councils in England have plans for implementing their equal opportunities strategy. The Department is working closely with TECs to ensure that those plans are up to date and effective.

§ Ms Abbott
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make it his policy to ensure that all TECs produce an action plan; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Paice
Each training and enterprise council is required to implement and assess and equal opportunities strategy in order to receive an agreement with the Department.
They are monitored by Employment Department officials to ensure compliance.

§ Ms Ruddock
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 19 January,Official Report, column 619, how many employees of the South Thames TEC are to be made redundant by 1 February; what proposals there are to make further redundancies by (a) 1 March and (b) 1 April; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Paice
I understand from the receiver that 34 employees of South Thames training and enterprise council have so far been made redundant. I further understand from the receiver that six employees of Routeways, a wholly owned subsidiary of South Thames TEC, have been made redundant and that another 18 Routeways employees are to be made redundant on or around 31 January. Any further redundancies are a matter for the receiver.