HC Deb 02 December 1991 vol 200 cc25-6W
Mr. McLeish

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish the response from the training and enterprise council's chief executive network on staffing arrangements to his proposal for the future of civil service staff now seconded to the TECs.

Mr. Jackson

The TEC chief executive consultative group is still involved in discussions with the Department. We have no plans to publish its views.

Mr. McLeish

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement about the impact of the autumn statement on the monitoring of expenditure of local enterprise companies and training and enterprise councils.

Mr. Jackson

The autumn statement as the Government's plan for public spending does not have a direct bearing on the monitoring of expenditure of local enterprise companies or training and enterprise councils.

Mr. McLeish

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to change the monitoring of training and enterprise councils and local enterprise companies.

Mr. Jackson

The TEC operating agreement for next year is currently being reviewed and this includes monitoring arrangements. Arrangements for monitoring the performance of local enterprise companies is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

Mr. McLeish

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to change the method of output-related funding for training and enterprise councils and local enterprise companies.

Mr. Jackson

In 1992–93 the method of output-related funding of youth training and employment training for training and enterprise councils will be largely unchanged. However, there will be a new category of output for trainees who achieve literacy and numeracy qualifications.

Mr. McLeish

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to end the secondment of civil service staff for local enterprise companies and training and enterprise councils.

Mr. Jackson

As my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State announced on 26 July, we have asked officials to take forward discussions with TECs, trade unions and seconded staff about future staffing arrangements and the practicalities of TECs as private companies, being free to employ directly all their own staff. Discussions are now well under way.

The position with local enterprise companies in Scotland is different in that legislation determined that all secondments would be for a maximum three-year period from 1 April 1991.

Mr. McLeish

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the organisations consulted on the future arrangments for seconding civil service staff for local enterprise companies and training and enterprise councils.

Mr. Jackson

Discussions about the future staffing arrangements for training and enterprise councils (TECs) have been with TECs, staff on secondment to TECs and with the two main trade unions representing members on secondment. No other organisations have been involved in the discussions.

Arrangments for secondments to local enterprise companies in Scotland were agreed prior to 1 April 1991 and there are no proposals to change them.