§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she is taking to ensure that(a) National Training Organisations discharge their outstanding legal and professional obligations before winding-up and (b) adequate continuity of business is maintained in the interim before sector skills councils are established to replace them. [40331]
§ John HealeyGovernment are withdrawing National Training Organisation (NTO) recognition on 31 March 2002. A body with this status will be free to continue business after this date if its board decides. A board that decides to wind up its organisation will be subject to normal rules, usually discharged through liquidation procedures, to safeguard third party interests. Where public contracts are concerned alternative arrangements will be made for the delivery of this work by another competent body. We have agreed to provide contracts up to 31 August 2002 to ensure that essential work in the public interest will continue after NTO recognition ends 251W and where specific funding has been requested. The Sector Skills Development Agency will be responsible for ensuring the delivery of this work from September 2002.