§ Mr. OppenheimTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a further statement about the sale of the Skills Training Agency.
§ Mr. HowardThe business at Chesterfield skill centre will not now transfer to Astra Training Services Ltd. as originally planned. The transfer relied upon the assignment of the lease at the skill centre to Astra, but the landlord, Chesterfield borough council, has refused to make the premises available to Astra.
As a consequence of the council's decision, there is no option but for the business to close. Ten jobs will be lost and a valuable training facility will disappear. Where possible staff at the skill centre will be redeployed; action will be taken to find alternative training provision for the trainees.