§ Q2. Mr. Moonmanasked the Prime Minister if he will take steps to set up a committee of inquiry with a view to co-ordinating the various Departmental responsibilities for, and standards of, management education in the United Kingdom.
§ The Prime MinisterI am not convinced that a committee of inquiry would serve a useful purpose, but if my hon. Friend would care to make a case I would be happy to have it examined.
§ Mr. MoonmanWhile recognising the positive attitude adopted by Government and industry in recent years towards matters of training, may I ask my right hon. Friend to reconsider the question in view of some of the anomalies which exist because of the fragmentation of management training in colleges, universities and companies?
§ The Prime MinisterI understand my hon. Friend's anxieties, but the problem 207 is that management training goes on in a considerable number of different areas. We have the business schools in London and Manchester. Clearly this should be a matter for the University Grants Committee and education authorities. The powers of industrial training boards bring in the Department of Employment and Productivity. If my hon. Friend will send fuller information about any ways in which he thinks these various jobs can be better co-ordinated, I shall be glad to examine them.
§ Mr. Ian LloydWill the Prime Minister agree that one of the most important things the Government can do to encourage a high level of management training in Britain is to ensure that the rewards do not fall below what is virtually an international level?
§ The Prime MinisterThat raises very wide questions, but I am sure the hon. Member will agree that under successive Governments there has been a great improvement in getting the best men for the job and seeing that they are adequately trained.