§ Lord Brooke of Alverthorpeasked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps they will take to ensure that the assets of the Training and Enterprise Councils, or that portion of them derived from operating surpluses on government-funded training and workforce development, will transfer to the Learning and Skills Council when that council is established. [HL4047]
§ Baroness BlackstoneOn termination of the licence for Training and Enterprise Councils in March 2001, reserves and assets which are attributable to the Secretary of State for Education and Employment become repayable. Government Offices will ensure that these resources are used to help meet the Government's priorities, including the establishment of the first 1 million Individual Learning Accounts and the creation of the Learning and Skills Council.
§ Lord Brooke of Alverthorpeasked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps will be taken to ensure that, in the event of the dissolution of any Training and Enterprise Council following the transfer of its functions to the Learning and Skills Council, severance payments for senior staff will be reasonable, and monies derived originally from public funds will not be used to fund excessive settlements. [HL4050]
§ Baroness BlackstoneThe department has given notice to all Training and Enterprise Councils (TECs) in England that their licences will be terminated at the end of the financial year 2000–01. Under the terms of this notice TECs are required to agree with the relevant Government Office any significant changes to staff terms and conditions, including proposals for severance payments.
§ Lord Brooke of Alverthorpeasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the value of the freehold property and other capital assets owned by Training and Enterprise Councils and utilised by them in delivering government-funded training and workforce development. [HL4048]
§ Baroness BlackstoneBased on the 1997–98 consolidated annual statutory audited accounts of 73 English TECs, the value of freehold property and other capital assets owned by TECs was £86 million.
70WA
§ Lord Brooke of Alverthorpeasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether any financial assets of any Training and Enterprise Councils are held in offshore bank accounts; and if so, whether any estimate can be given of the amount of such assets. [HL4049]
§ Baroness BlackstoneThe information requested is not held by the department. TECs are private limited companies and as such are not required by company law to disclose the location of their bank accounts within their statutory audited accounts.