§ Mr. Peter BottomleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will estimate the range of likely costs to public funds which will result from closure of and redundancies of providers at South Thames TEC.
§ Mr. PaiceI do not expect that any closures or redundancies will lead directly to costs to public funds. Consequential costs, for example any calls upon the national insurance fund, are not possible to estimate.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what he intends shall succeed South Thames TEC.
§ Mr. PaiceIt is urgent to settle the arrangements for training and enterprise council coverage in London for 1995–96. I have today invited CENTEC to put proposals to me on how it would exercise the full range of TEC responsibilities in the London boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark, and SOLOTEC in the London boroughs of Greenwich and Lewisham, from the start of the 1995–96 contract. In the light of the views expressed about the future arrangements in the South Thames area, I expect this to lead to calls for a wider review of London TEC boundaries, and in particular to consideration of a central London TEC covering a broader area. I look forward to hearing the views of London TECs and other London interests on those issues in due course.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if the Government take priority over training provider creditors for cash from the receivers of South Thames TEC.
§ Mr. PaiceYes. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is a secured creditor by virtue of a debenture held with the training and enterprise council.