To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost was of the provision of functional skills training for MOD St Athan by Bridgend College in each year since 2008; what the projected costs of the provision of functional skills training by a private contractor in future years; whether an assessment of the business case for the transfer of that training to a contracted provider was carried out prior to the decision to make that transfer; and if he will make a statement.

I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

Substantive answer from Anna Soubry to Mrs Moon:

In my answer of 20 March 2014, Hansard, column 703W, I undertook to write to you in response to your question regarding the cost of the provision of functional skills training to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) by Bridgend College.

There was no cost to the MOD for the provision of such training. Payment for functional skills training is drawn down by the provider from the Skills Funding Agency. Training provided by existing or future contractors will be funded in the same manner. The decision to move the provision of functional skills training from an informal system of “outside providers” to a more formal contractual footing was based on legal and commercial advice, and in no way reflects on the quality of training provided by Bridgend College.