Willie Rennie secures promise from Prime Minister to look into Lauder College New Deal contract decision

1.44.37pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 26th Apr 2006

Local MP, Willie Rennie, asked his first question in Prime Minister's Questions today. He used the opportunity to press the Prime Minister on the recent decision not to renew three New Deal contracts with Lauder College Employment and Enterprise.

In front of a packed House of Commons Chamber, in an exchange which was televised, he asked:

"Will the Prime Minister join me in congratulating Dunfermline's Lauder College Employment and Enterprise who have over the last 18 years successfully helped thousands of unemployed people find work? Will he also investigate the decision by Job Centre Plus not to renew three New Deal contracts for Fife with the College - a decision criticised by the local community, businesses and members on both sides of this House?"

Last Thursday, on the day that Lauder College confirmed the contracts had not been renewed, Mr Rennie held a crisis meeting with Professor Bill McIntosh, Principal of Lauder College, to discuss the way forward. He agreed that Lauder College Employment and Enterprise had done much valuable work and delivered the New Deal contracts very effectively. He then returned to Westminster to question the UK Government on the decision.

The decision not to renew the contracts has been widely criticised. Former client, Zander Donaldson of Bear Designs Scotland said that Lauder College Employment and Enterprise provided an "invaluable service…second to none." The Training for Work programme helped him set up his own business after he was made redundant. His company has turned over nearly £1 million in three years and has been responsible for nearly £6 million worth of commercial refurbishments all over Scotland in the last 3 years.

Fraser Phillips, Managing Director of Silberline said:

"It is to be regretted that a shining example of best practice suffers as a result of political decisions of this sort made with little knowledge of local situations."

In answer to Willie Rennie's question, Mr Blair said that he was "not aware of the circumstances of Job Centre Plus' decision". He said that he would look into the matter and write to Mr Rennie.