asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many skillcentre instructors are being made redundant or having to take early retirement because of skillcentre closures; and what financial arrangements are being made for such instructors.

No compulsory redundancies are expected amongst skillcentre instructors. Some instructors over the age of 60 will however be compulsorily retired. The number is not yet known and will depend upon how many instructors leave voluntarily.The financial arrangements which will apply to staff retiring at 60 or over are embodied in the principal civil service pension scheme (PCSPS) and a shortened version of this document is held in the Library.