HC Deb 26 June 1991 vol 193 cc477-9W
Mr. Fatchett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what requirements have been put on the trustees of Bacon's city technology college about the money he has made available to them to build the city technology college should they decide not to proceed with the city technology college.

Mr. Eggar

Paragraph 24(A)iv of the CTC funding agreement requires the CTC on termination of the agreement to repay to the Secretary of State sums determined by reference to

  1. "(a) the value at that time of the College's site and premises and other assets held for the purposes of the College; and

of expenditure on further education colleges and sixth-form colleges, the capital value of each scheme, and the institutions concerned; and whether, in any case, ministerial approval has been granted.

Mr. Eggar

The details are given in the table. In several cases, formal ministerial approval has not been needed for the action which the authority has been proposing to take. In other cases, while it has been possible to indicate our likely agreement, formal agreement has to await the details of the proposed contracts. I am unable to specify the values of the contracts concerned; to do so would be in breach of commercial information supplied in confidence.

  1. (b) the extent to which expenditure incurred in providing those assets was met by payments by the Secretary of State under this Agreement."

Mr. Fatchett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will investigate the failure of the sponsors of Bacon's city technology college to offer all staff of Bacon's school security of appointment at the city technical college, as previously agreed between the school and the city technical college; and if he will make a statement;

(2) whether he will make it his policy to contribute to the redundancy payments of staff of Bacon's school, when it closes on 31 August, who have not been offered equivalent employment at the new Bacon's city technology college or achieved employment elsewhere.

Mr. Eggar

My right hon. and learned Friend has been kept informed by the trustees of the Bacon's city technology college of progress towards the opening of the school, including issues of staffing. He is considering generally the question of liability of any redundancy payment.

Mr. Fatchett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Blackburn (Mr. Straw),Official Report, 9 May, columns 561–64, when the valuation of 1.5 million was made for the proceeds of the present site of Bacon's school; when the site will be put on the market; and what is the present estimate of the proceeds.

Mr. Eggar

The Bacon's school site was valued in 1989 at £1.5 million, following the advice of agents. The site will be marketed this autumn, with this figure as a guide price.

Mr. Fatchett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when the new building for Bacon's city technology college will be available for occupation.

Mr. Eggar

The Bacon's CTC autumn term starts on 23 September, by which time most of the new building will be complete and available for occupation.

Mr. Fatchett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the cost of the chapel that has been built in the new Bacon's city technology college; and who has agreed to pay for it.

Mr. Eggar

The cost of the chapel, which is assessed at £140,000 will be met entirely by the Southwark diocesan board of education.

Mr. Fatchett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what role his appointee on the trustee of Bacon's city technology college has played in the appointment of staff at the new college.

Mr. Eggar

The Secretary of State's nominee on the Bacon's CTC trust has been directly involved only in the appointment of the principal of the college.

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