asked the Minister for Labour if he will outline the criteria necessary and the methods of selection and appointment of consultants and their agents for the purposes of running AnCO courses; the number of such consultants presently employed; the number of courses and type of course allocated to each since 1 January 1984; and the amount paid to each such consultant.
Written Answers. - AnCO Courses.
600.
The following are the criteria applied by AnCO in engaging outside firms or consultants to provide external training:
—the competitiveness of the fees they charge;
—their particular training expertise especially as regards training the unemployed;
—the training facilities available to them;
—their performance and results in respect of previous training undertaken by them;
—their ability to operate in locations where training needs exist which cannot be met more efficiently or effectively from other AnCO programmes;
—their knowledge of industry's skill needs and their supporting contracts in industry;
—the need for a particular skill in the labour market which may not be readily available from within AnCO's other programmes.
Appropriate firms or consultants are selected on a tendering basis. Tendering documents in respect of each course give the following details:
(a) Resources — both physical and manpower,
(b) Course design,
(c) Cost of providing the course.
Based on the criteria as outlined above and the tendering information, AnCO appoints the most suitable firm-consultants to provide the course. At present 102 firms-consultants are providing courses.
From January 1 1984 to date a total of 449 firms-consultants were engaged to provide external training courses. These provided 875 courses. A wide range of courses were provided under four categories:
—Enterprise programmes,
—Business programmes,
—Career development programmes,
—Equal opportunity programmes.
From January 1, 1984 to date the total amount paid to firms-consultants was £11,850,000, out of which their costs of instructors, administration, training, materials, equipment and accommodation have to be met. The amount of fees paid to each firm-consultant is not readily available but I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as possible.