§ Mr. PageTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list for the five years prior to privatisation the loss or profit of(a) the Skills Training 359W Agency and (b) Professional and Executive Recruitment; and if he will list any grants or loans made over the same period.
Mr. Jackson(a) The privatisation of the Skills Training Agency (STA) was completed in May 1990. From 1 April 1984 STA was required to operate trading accounts. These are contained and fully explained within the published MSC/TA White Paper accounts for the financial years 1984–5 to 1988–89 which have been laid before Parliament. For 1989–90 no separate trading accounts were produced for STA and its activity is covered in the Trading Agency White Paper accounts (1989–90) which were published in July 1991. The total surplus/deficit position for the five financial years 1984–85 to 1988–89 (after exceptional items and extraordinary costs) is as follows:
Years £ million1 1984–85 (15.2) 1985–86 (17.5) 1986–87 0.2 1987–88 (2.9) 1988–89 (27.3) 1 Figures in brackets reflect deficit amounts. STA, as part of MSC and its successors was included in the Department's vote and was able to draw funds from that vote in meet its commitments. No loans were made to STA.
(b) The privatisation of Professional and Executive Recruitment (PER) was completed in September 1988. From April 1983 PER was required to operate a trading account. Full details are contained in the MSC White Paper accounts for the years 1983–84 to 1986–87. Accounts for 1987–88 are contained in House of Commons Papers Nos. 582 and 603 of 1987–88. The net surplus/deficit position for the five financial years 1983–84 to 1987–88 is as follows:
Years £ million1 1983–84 0.1 1984–85 0.2 1985–86 0.1 1986–87 (0.2) 1987–88 (1.0) 1 Figures in brackets reflect deficit amounts. PER as part of MSC and the employment service was included in the Department's vote and was able to draw funds from that vote to meet its commitments. No loans were made to PER.