asked the Paymaster General how many skillcentres have been closed down during the past three years; and where they were located.

My right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Employment informed the House on 29 November 1984 about the skillcentre training agency's proposals for improving the efficiency and cost effectiveness of the skillcentre networks and told the House on 21 February 1985 that he was asking the Manpower Services Commission to implement the agency's proposals. In consequence, some 27 skillcentres or skillcentre annexes have been closed down. These were located at :

Bellshill Annexe (Glasgow), Bristol Annexe, Castle Bromwich Skillcentre, Denton Skillcentre (Manchester), Doncaster Skillcentre, Dumbarton Skillcentre, Edinburgh Annexe, Gloucester Annexe, Handsworth Young Persons Training Centre (Birmingham), Hillington Annexe (Glasgow), Hindley Annexe (Greater Manchester), Killingworth Skillcentre (Newcastle), Kirkby in Ashfield Skillcentre, Lambeth Young Persons Training Centre, Liverpool Skillcentre, Llanelli Skillcentre, Long Eaton Skillcentre, Medway Annexe, Middlesbrough Skillcentre, Plymouth Annexe, Queenslie Skillcentre (Glasgow), Redditch Skillcentre, Waddon Skillcentre (Sydenham), Waddon Annexe (Sydenham), West Gwent Skillcentre (Pontllanfraith), West Sussex Annexe (Lancing), Wolverhampton Annexe.