§ Mr. McLeishTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total amount paid to Mr. Bishell, Mr. Kent and Mr. Wells for consultancy fees on the sale of the Skills Training Agency; if he will list the consultants involved; whether the advance has been repaid; and for what period consultancy advice was given.
§ Mr. EggarAs I informed the hon. Member for Bradford, South (Mr. Cryer) on 3 April 1990,Official Report, column 585, Mr. Bishell, Mr. Wells and Mr. Kent appointed Coopers and Lybrand to advise on their bid for the Skills Training Agency and Irwin Mitchell to provide legal advice.
Following the announcement by my right hon. Friend the Member for Sutton Coldfield (Sir N. Fowler) on 13 March 1989 that he intended to make financial assistance available to members of STA staff contemplating a buy-out, Messrs Bishell, Wells and Kent applied for help. This was offered on 31 March 1989. A total of £82,500, excluding VAT, was made available to them as a contribution to their costs, and this has now been repaid in accordance with the terms on which it was offered.
§ Mr. McLeishTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total estimated expenditure involved in the payment of fees to Deloitt Haskins and Sells for work done on the privatisation of the Skills Training Agency, for the most recent dates for which figures are available.
§ Mr. EggarSimilar questions were recently posed by the hon. Member for Bradford, South (Mr. Cryer). I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave to him on 27 March,Official Report column 158 which was reiterated on 3 April, Official Report column 585. Total expenses in connection with the sale of the Skills Training Agency in 1989–90, including professional fees and expenses paid to Deloittes and other advisers will be available in the appropriation accounts—class VI, vote 5—to be published in the summer.