§ Sir David SteelTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received on the ability of Scottish Enterprise and the local enterprise councils of Scotland to provide special needs training for those who require it; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LangSince the beginning of 1991, I have received 25 representations which, among other issues, express concern about the ability of Scottish Enterprise and the local enterprise companies to provide special needs training for those who require it. Local enterprise companies were required to make adequate provision for people with special needs in their business plans; and the scrutiny of these business plans by Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise necessarily included assessment of how well the local enterprise companies' proposals met these needs. Furthermore, one of the criteria by which local enterprise companies are to be judged is their success in catering for special training needs. There is no reason to doubt that Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and local enterprise companies are taking their responsibilities for people with special needs seriously and will deliver appropriate training provision.
§ Sir David SteelTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate the Scottish Office has made for the share of the youth training budget in the Borders for 1991–92 which is to come from private sources; and if he will make it his policy that if the sum is not forthcoming he will make up any shortfall.
§ Mr. LangThe Scottish Office has no involvement in the allocation of resources by Scottish Enterprise to individual local enterprise companies. These decisions, and any estimates on which they are based, are matters for Scottish Enterprise.