asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish the normal criteria which are used by the Manpower Services Commission to assess the viability of revenue-earning schemes, particularly enterprise workshops (a) at point of application and (b) at mid-term review stage.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that it is no longer operating special arrangements under the STEP to assist enterprise workshops to become financially viable. The criteria for those currently funded have been that forecasts of accounts should indicate that the scheme could become self-financing within the period of MSC funding—a maximum of two years—and that the forecasts should be feasible. Assessment at the point of application has been based on technical capability and potential sales and overall profitability. The mid-term assessment examines performance during the first period of funding as well as prospects for the second.