§ Baroness Blatchasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether Action For Governors' Information and Training (AGIT) has received in error a grant of £34,000 twice from the Department for Education and Employment; and if so, whether AGIT should be told to return the taxpayers' money it has been overpaid. [HL821]
§ Baroness BlackstoneI can confirm that that is the case. I can also assure the noble Baroness that steps have already been taken to safeguard taxpayers' money. Following the decision reached by AGIT's management committee to wind up the organisation as it is no longer financially viable, it has been agreed that any cash balance in the final accounts should be paid to the department against the outstanding debt and that the 167WA department will have the right to agree to the assignment of any remaining assets.
We have been concerned to ensure that AGIT should be wound up in a way which would best reinforce governor training while also protecting public investment and ensuring financial probity. We consider that best value for money will be achieved by ensuring that the substantial body of intellectual assets created by AGIT in the form of publications and training materials can remain available for school governors. Discussions as to how this can best be achieved are currently taking place.