HC Deb 02 May 1990 vol 171 cc543-4W
Mr. Janman

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a further statement about the sale of the Skills Training Agency.

Mr. Nicholls

The number and percentage of YTS leavers for Great Britain and for the west midlands region for each year from April 1986 to the most recent date gaining a qualification(a) in total and (b) with a disability in Great Britain and the west midlands are as follows:

Mr. Nicholls

The number of YTS leavers for Great Britain and for the west midlands region for each year from April 1986 to the most recent date entering full-time employment(a) in total and (b) with disabilities are as follows:

Mr. Eggar

The sale of the majority of the businesses to Astra Training Services Limited was completed on 30 April. As a result 42 skill centre businesses, the STA head office, mobile training service, sales teams, and colleges, and the staff employed in them, have transferred to the private sector. The sale of the gas and water safety training business at Letchworth skill centre to Mr. James was also completed on 30 April. The sales to Astra of the businesses of four other centres, and the sales to other successful bidders, are planned for completion shortly.

Mr. Andrew Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how he is financing any expenditure in connection with the privatisation of the Skills Training Agency.

Mr. Howard

The full expenses will be covered by receipts from the sale. Some of the payments by the Government to training business purchasers need to be made before the arrival of receipts from the sale of assets not included in the business packages. Parliamentary approval for this new expenditure will be sought in a supplementary estimate for the privatisation of the Skills Training Agency (class VI, vote 5). Pending the necessary approval, urgent expenditure estimated at up to £16.324 million is being met by repayable advances from the Contingencies Fund.