As already noted, MSF have finally closed their doors.
At Manchester Barton (or City Airport Manchester as the owners like to call it) the LAC Flying School was sold in March 2007, and now trades totally independent of
LAC (the aero club). Stuart Carr's '
LAC Flying School' trades as such, with the same staff and aircraft fleet which he purchased from LAC.
Ravenair also operates a flying training operation at Barton as well as from its main base at Liverpool. If you refer to the company's price lists you will see that it is cheaper to learn to fly at Liverpool Airport than it is at City Airport Manchester Barton! Apart from being cheaper, you also stand a better chance of completing your PPL training during the winter months, when Barton is waterlogged closed to fixed wing operations for days-on-end.
I'd stay in Australia if I was you ! If only for the sunshine......