§ 5. Miss Quennellasked the Minister of Labour what advice he has sought on the problems of teaching technique involved in the retraining of mature adults.
§ Mr. HareMy Department has been engaged in the retraining of adults since 1919 and itself provides courses in training techniques for instructors in industry. Studies have been made of training methods used in Continental countries and my Department keeps in touch with the International Vocational Training Information and Research Centre in Geneva. My Department is also represented on the Training Sub-Committee of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.
§ Miss QuennellWould my right hon. Friend bear in mind that in dealing with mature adult men and women in their forties the teaching techniques employed must necessarily be very different from those employed in teaching younger people or retraining younger people? Will he have consultations with the Ministry of Education to avail himself of the wealth of experience in that Department?
§ Mr. HareI can assure my hon. Friend that I keep in very close touch with the Minister of Education on this matter. I do not think she should minimise the wealth of experience we have had in my Department on this subject since 1919. I would also point out that many people from foreign countries come to us to ask for our advice on how this problem can best be dealt with.
§ 6. Miss Quennellasked the Minister of Labour what consideration he is giving to the problems involved in retraining skilled adult industrial workers; and what progress has been made.
§ Mr. HareMy Department has long experience in the provision of industrial training for adults including retraining of skilled workers. The courses provided at Government Training Centres can be adapted where necessary to meet the special requirements of men with particular previous skills.
§ 11. Mr. Boydenasked the Minister of Labour to what extent Her Majesty's Government's proposals for industrial training include granting a statutory right to juveniles under 18 years of age to attend training classes arranged in the industry in which they are employed.
§ Mr. HareSuch a right is not included among my proposals for the Bill. It will be for the industrial training boards to consider the form and content of training most appropriate to the needs of their particular industry and to see that the training given is adequate.
§ Mr. BoydenIs the right hon. Gentleman giving consideration to this matter? Surely if university education is free, as it is under the 1962 Act, and everybody could reach a standard, everything ought to be done to see that youngsters of 15 to 18 who have nothing like the advantages enjoyed by university students get full right to any training that is going? Will the right hon. Gentleman look at this?
§ Mr. HareNot only will I look at it, but as he knows, the whole question of the day release of young people is being studied by the Committee on the Development of Day Release appointed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Education. On that we have the chairman of the British Employers' Confederation's Industrial Education and Training Committee in the chair discussing these matters with members of the T.U.C. and others who are genuinely interested in the subject.
§ 12. Mr. Boydenasked the Minister of Labour if, consequent upon the issue of Command Paper No. 1892, he proposes to establish a National Planning Board for Industrial Training in order to coordinate the work of individual training boards.
§ Mr. HareThis is one among a number of suggestions which I am discussing with representatives of industrial organisations.
§ Mr. BoydenCan the right hon. Gentleman say how he will plan the priorities in industrial training if he has not an overall goal? Is he going to do it through his own Department, as it were behind the scenes, or will it not be done?
§ Mr. HareThis is an important matter. It is precisely one of the major questions 6 which I am going to discuss with both sides of industry. I must say that at this stage I do not want an organisation which is too top-heavy to consult and too complex in structure. I must keep that absolutely in the forefront of my mind when I am discussing these matters with industry.
§ Dr. BrayDoes the right hon. Gentleman not think that in this field it is important to have at least some full-time executive staff who have experience of training in industry? Are there any people in his Department who have this kind of experience?
§ Mr. HareThe hon. Member knows perfectly well that I have many people in my Department who have a great deal of knowledge of industrial training.
§ Mr. HareThe hon. Gentleman knows perfectly well that that is so. As I have made clear in the White Paper, I am going to discuss these matters with industry, and I do not want my mind made up by suggestions from hon. Members opposite. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] I withdraw. I should have said "from the hon. Gentleman opposite".