§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the principal elements of the debenture held against each of the training and enterprise councils at the beginning of each financial year.
§ Mr. RedwoodThe same debenture arrangements were agreed with all TECs when they were first set up. The debenture protects the Department against any debts it is owned by a TEC by providing a charge over all of the TEC's assets. A copy will be available in the Library of the House.
§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give details of the procedure and criteria for his Department's approval of training and enterprise council projects for spending surpluses earned on training 817W contracts with his Department; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RedwoodTraining and enterprise councils are required to give details of their proposals for the utilisation of surpluses in their business plans which are submitted to the Welsh office each year. TEC business plans are approved as part of the process by which annual contracts are agreed with TECs. Separate approval is required for spend of surplus on projects not identified in the business plan.
TEC proposals for utilising surpluses are assessed against the following criteria as set out in the TEC operating agreement.
The proposals must be:
- (i) within the terms of the TECs memorandum and articles of association;
- (ii) consistent with the terms of the operating agreement;
- (iii) not in conflict with current Government policy;
- (iv) financially prudent and take account of independent professional advice where appropriate;
- (v) practical and represent good value for money.
§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many expenditure projects have been submitted from each of the training and enterprise councils; if he will give details of the main projects awaiting his approval; and how long each project has been awaiting his approval.
§ Mr. RedwoodTEC proposals for expenditure across the whole range of training, education and enterprise activities are set out in the annual business plan which is integral to the contracting process with the Welsh Office. This contractual relationship is commercial in confidence.
§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what league tables he has set up to evaluate the relative effectiveness of the training and enterprise councils; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RedwoodA table of inter-TEC performance comparisons covering all TECs in England and Wales was published on 25 August 1994. A copy is available in the Library of the House.
§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the aggregate level of surpluses of the Welsh training and enterprise councils at the latest date for which figures are available.
§ Mr. RedwoodThe latest information on the aggregate level of surpluses of training and enterprise councils in Wales is contained in the appropriation accounts for 1993–94, volume 11, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.