HC Deb 09 March 1995 vol 256 cc338-9W
Ms Jowell

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what arrangements he will make to ensure that individual contractors which submitted claims for work carried out for STTEC are reimbursed in full.

Mr. Paice

Whether contractors are paid for services contracted for with South Thames training and enterprise council will depend upon the source of the funding and the timing of the work done. For Government-funded programmes—excluding employer investment in people—payments will be made to providers for properly substantiated claims for work done since 7 November 1994. Employer investment in people contractors will be paid for work done after 21 December 1994—the date of the appointment of the receiver. Payment for discretionary programmes funded from TEC reserves after 21 December 1994 are a matter for the receiver. All contractors are unsecured creditors to the TEC for payments relating to work on Government programmes—excluding employer investment in people—before 7 November 1994 and all other forms of contract and employer investment in people prior to 21 December 1994.

Ms Jowell

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total amount of money which was pledged by the South Thames TEC to training providers based in the Dulwich constituency for the financial year 1994–95.

Mr. Paice

The information is not held by the Department.

Ms Jowell

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total amount of money owing to individual contractors which submitted claims for payment for work carried out for South Thames TEC before the appointment of the receiver.

Mr. Paice

The total amount of money owing to individual contractors which submitted claims for payment for work carried out for South Thames training and enterprise council, before the appointment of the receiver, is a matter for the receiver.

Ms Jowell

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what arrangements he will make to ensure that Waverley school in Dulwich receives the £75,000 it was promised by the South Thames TEC before going into receivership.

Mr. Paice

The £75,000 referred to in the question breaks down into six separate programmes. Two of these, compact and careers initiative, are Government-funded programmes covered by the comfort arrangements so the school will receive funding for these programmes for work undertaken since 7 November 1994. However, for any moneys owing for activities undertaken before 7 November, the school is an unsecured creditor. Investors in people is Government-funded, but comfort has not been extended to this programme as it benefits organisations rather than individuals. The school is an unsecured creditor to the training and enterprise council for this programme before 21 December, the date of the receiver's appointment. Claims for work done after 21 December should be submitted to the receiver.

The school effectiveness pilot and the technology bid are South Thames TEC initiatives funded from the TEC's own reserves. The Government are not committed to continue to fund discretionary programmes financed from the TEC's reserves. The Waverley school is an unsecured creditor to the TEC for the two latter programmes for payments relating to work done prior to the receiver's appointment on 21 December. Whether invoices for any such work done after 21 December are paid is a matter for the receiver. The personal effectiveness programme initiative is Government funded. It offers the use of a consultancy service rather than providing funding direct to the school. This service will continue to be delivered under the normal conditions.

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