HC Deb 13 February 1996 vol 271 cc528-9W
Mr. Pawsey

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the total amount of Government funding currently provided to the TECs. [14277]

Mr. Paice

The total amount of funding provided to training and enterprise councils by the Department in 1995–96 is £1.216 billion. The Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of the Environment also provide TECs with additional Government funding.

The responsibility for TECs in Wales lies with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the total annual cost to the Exchequer of the running of the training and enterprise councils. [14466]

Mr. Paice

The Department does not collect this information. Training and enterprise councils are private companies. The Department makes a contribution to the council's administration costs. In 1995–96 the contribution is £126 million.

Mr. Byers

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she expects to reach an agreement with training and enterprise councils about their operating agreement for 1996–97. [15081]

Mr. Paice

The published agreement will be with training and enterprise councils by the third week of February. Negotiations with TECs on budgets and targets for 1996–97 are progressing. Officials from the Department expect to sign agreements with TECs by 25 March 1996, the start of the new contract year.