HC Deb 16 January 1996 vol 269 c512W
Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of the impact of the Budget on Barnsley and Doncaster TEC; and if she will make a statement. [8456]

Mr. Paice

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment wrote to all training and enterprise council chairmen in England on 28 November regarding the effects of the budget announcement on TECs. Officials from the Government office for Yorkshire and Humberside have had preliminary meetings with all TECs in the region. Detailed discussions with Barnsley and Doncaster TEC will begin later this month.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of the accuracy of the published information on the value of Barnsley and Doncaster TEC's contract with the Employment Department in the financial year 1994–95; and if she will make a statement. [8430]

Mr. Paice

Information on the Barnsley and Doncaster training and enterprise council's budget for 1994–95 was published on 22 November 1994,Official Report, column 102, in a written answer to the hon. Member for Rother Valley (Mr. Barron) and the TEC's annual report for 1994–95 indicates income and expenditure relating to a range of activities, including those for which the Department contracts with the TEC. The accuracy of the written answer was checked by my officials, and the financial information in the TEC's annual report is extracted from the annual statutory report and accounts which are subject to external audit.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what negotiations have taken place between her Department and Barnsley and Doncaster TEC to make provision for employment for the over-45 year age group; and if she will make a statement. [8431]

Mr. Paice

Negotiations between the Department and Barnsley and Doncaster training and enterprise council cover a number of matters, including training for work which is open to eligible unemployed adults up to the age of 63. Clients in the over 45 age group also have access to a range of Employment Service programmes through the local jobcentres.