§ 23. Mr. R. Carrasked the Minister of Overseas Development what progress she has made in her study of ways of improving the arrangements for providing practical training in industry for students who come to Great Britain from overseas to take engineering or other similar courses in technical colleges.
§ Mr. OramI hope that we shall be able to provide, through the industrial training boards, more opportunities for overseas students and trainees to be trained in British industry, including those who are taking engineering or other similar courses in technical colleges. Discussions with the industrial training boards are in progress.
§ Mr. CarrDoes that mean that the hon. Gentleman is prepared to use the power which is incorporated in the Industrial Training Act, 1964, to make grants to industrial companies in return for them taking overseas trainees?
§ Mr. OramI think that the right hon. Gentleman is referring to the powers contained in Section 14 of that Act. It has not been necessary to exercise those powers so far, and we are not anxious to use them, but we are certainly prepared to do so if it should be necessary.