HC Deb 11 July 1966 vol 731 cc959-60
39. Mr. McNamara

asked the Minister of Labour if he will make a statement with regard to the setting up of industrial training boards for commerce.

Mrs. Shirley Williams

Certain commercial activities have already been brought within scope of existing boards and my right hon. Friend has it in mind to set up boards for the main sectors of commerce after consultation with the interested parties. Discussions are expected to start about the end of this year.

Mr. McNamara

I thank my hon. Friend for that reply. Is she aware of the concern which exists among teachers in further education that certain industries in this sphere might be taking all this training upon themselves, that this will lead to too much specialisation, will make mobility of labour in future difficult and affect future retraining? Will she consider making the Ordinary National Certificate in Business Studies a required basis for all commercial education?

Mrs. Williams

The Central Training Council's Commercial and Clerical Committee is concerned with trying to coordinate all activities in commercial and clerical training as between different industries. The latter part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question raises a new point. Perhaps he would be kind enough to put down a Question to the relevant Department on that matter.