§ Mr. CryerTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many skill centres have been sold; how much revenue has been obtained by the Government; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. JacksonThe sales of the training businesses at 51 of the 60 skill centres, the Skills Training Agency head office, mobile training service, sales teams and colleges were all completed by the 31 May 1990. The sales involved payments from the Government to the purchasers of some £14 million. the unsold skill centres have been closed and their equipment and the Department's residual property interests are being sold. This process has not been completed, so it is not yet possible to state the final proceeds of the sale.
§ Mr. CryerTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether any proportion of the proceeds of the sale of machinery and equipment from skill centres will be remitted to the Government; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. JacksonThe plant and machinery from the five regional offices and nine skill centres which have not been moved to the private sector were sold by four public auctions in June and July 1990. The sales produced a total gross realisation of some £940,000 ex-VAT with further minor sales realising some £19,000. Net income to the Government totalled some £0.86 million.