§ 22. Mr. Swinglerasked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation what broad conclusions were reached at the Federation of British Industries conference at which his Department participated; to what extent the United Kingdom Government are assisting the positive recommendations of the conference; and through which Government Departments this is to be done.
§ The Secretary for Technical Co-operation (Mr. Robert Carr)The Federation of British Industries has not yet formulated its own views or the conclusions reached at its conference, and until it does so it would be premature for me to discuss them.
The Ministry of Labour, the Board of Trade and my own Department which are all concerned with training in industry are however in close touch with the Federation of British Industries.
§ Mr. SwinglerAm I to take it that the right hon. Gentleman's Department is discussing the matter with the Federation of British Industries? Are representatives of developing countries also involved? Were they invited to the conference and are they also participating in discussions about what the Federation of British Industries proposes to do?
§ Mr. CarrMy Department is certainly in touch with the Federation of British Industries, as I have said. Representatives of developing countries are not involved, for the simple reason that the object of the conference is to discuss our own organisation in this country for 1010 receiving these trainees, which of course is a matter for internal organisation.
§ Mr. G. M. ThomsonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a good deal of anxiety about the inadequacy of our arrangements for in-service training for people from developing countries? Can he assure us that every step is being taken by the F.B.I. and the developing countries to try to get a satisfactory solution of this problem?
§ Mr. CarrI am aware of the need and I hope than we shall get improvement in this field, as in training generally, when the. new legislation on training comes into force.