Skill Centres (Hansard, 16 May 1989)

§ 41. Mr. Dunnachie
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether a prospectus will be sent to all those bidding for the skill centres.

§ Mr. Cope
The skills training agency will be offered for sale through a private tender process, and the sale will be open to all interested parties.

§ 65. Ms. Ruddock
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment who owns the freehold of Deptford skill centre; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Cope
The freehold is Crown property, at present held in the name of the Secretary of State for the Environment. Management and financial responsibility is a matter for the Training Commission.

§ 47. Mr. Nigel Griffiths
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will report to the House what progress has been made on the management buy-out of the national network of skill centres.

§ Mr. Cope
In his statement to the House on 13 March,Official Report, column 35, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State referred to the existence of a management buy-out team, and said that he had agreed to give them financial assistance to make a bid when the skills training agency is offered for sale. It is for the team to decide whether to bid when the formal offer for sale occurs.