§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what help, financial or other, his Department is prepared to offer Cathedral Employment Enterprises; and if he will make a statement.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe Employment Department does not contract directly with providers for training—other than the Employment Service for job clubs. Therefore, it is not in a position to give financial support to Cathedral Employment Enterprises. The ES currently has around £20,000 owing to Cathedral and is waiting to be advised by Cathedral's accountants of new arrangements for paying this figure. Both the ES and South Thames training and enterprise council, with which Cathedral had substantial contracts, gave Cathedral's invoices priority treatment to ease its cash-flow problems. All three TECs that currently have contracts with Cathedral, and the ES, are making alternative arrangements to help those trainees affected.