HC Deb 22 October 1993 vol 230 cc365-6W
Mr. Dobson

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from training and enterprise councils over the collapse of the Astra training centres and/or their acquisition by Mr. Patrick Doyle; on what dates each such representation was received and from which training and enterprise council; what plans he has to meet representatives of the training and enterprise councils to discuss their concerns; and if he will make a statement.

Miss Widdecombe

We have received no such representations from any training and enterprise council. Any request from a training and enterprise council for a meeting would be considered in the normal way.

Mr. Dobson

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what requests he has made, or correspondence he has sent to Arthur Andersen and Co., in relation to its role as receiver for the Astra training centres; what was the date and nature of such correspondence and contact; and if he will make a statement.

Miss Widdecombe

The Department requested and received information from Arthur Andersen confirming the continued existence of Astra's pension fund and the appointment to the fund by the receiver of an independent trustee. The receiver also informed the Department on 12 October which Astra skill centres had been sold as going concerns.

Since Arthur Andersen was appointed as receiver in July there have been telephone and written contacts, and one meeting, in connection with the Department's continued interest as freeholder a head leaseholder of a number of properties occupied by Astra.

Mr. Dobson

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what residual powers, rights and duties Her Majesty's Government possess in respect of the former skill centres acquired by Astra, and its staff,(a) in respect of determining subsequent ownership of the centres and (b) in other respects.

Miss Widdecombe

Her Majesty's Government have no residual powers, rights or duties relating to the former skill centres acquired by Astra in relation to the determination of the subsequent ownership of the centres. Some of the property interests acquired by Astra from the Department in 1990 were subject to clawback provisions, under which the Department is entitled to a share of any development gains made in the 10 years after privatisation, If these property interests are acquired by a purchaser of an Astra skill centre the clawback arrangements he will be bound by them for the balance of the 10-year period.