HC Deb 05 March 1985 vol 74 c459W
17. Mr. Terry Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received regarding the proposed closure of skillcentres.

Mr. Peter Morrison

Since my right hon. Friend's statement in the House on 29 November about the skillcentre proposals made to the Manpower Services Commission by the skillcentre training agency, my right hon. Friend and I have received some 190 letters on the subject and met seven delegations.

32. Mr. Chope

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many representations he has received about the proposed closure of the Southampton skillcentre annex.

Mr. Peter Morrison

My hon. Friend has been to see me about the position in Southampton and I am to have further discussions with him and representatives of the Southampton chamber of commerce next week. Since the skillcentre training agency's proposals were announced on 28 November, my right hon. Friend and I have received around 11 letters on the proposed closure of the Southampton skillcentre annexe and in addition several hon. Members have put questions. I know that the commission chairman has also received a number of letters on the subject and that meetings have been held between his officials and Southampton city council, Hampshire county council, and the Hampshire Development Association.

63. Mr. Stan Thorne

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the future of the skillcentres.

76. Mr. Jack Thompson

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the future of skillcentres.

Mr. Peter Morrison

I refer the hon. Members to the statement my right hon. Friend made to the House on 21 February at column 1234.

Sir David Price

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if in view of the representations which he has received, he will agree to maintain and sustain the Southampton skillcentre and its annexe.

Mr. Peter Morrison

The skillcentre training agency's plan, accepted by the Manpower Services Commission, is based upon its judgment of what represents the best way forward for the skillcentre network as a whole. It proposes to retain Southampton skillcentre, but close its annexe.

My right hon. Friend believed it right to accept the Commission's professional judgment on the shape of the network but has particularly asked the chairman to make quite sure in implementing the plan that no individual closure takes place before satisfactory alernative provisions have been identified.

I will, of course, pass on the points made by my hon. Friend about the Southampton skillcentre annexe to the chairman of the commission.