§ 26. Mr. Howieasked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what proposal she has to extend the range of skills and crafts taught in Government training centres.
§ Mr. DellIndustry's needs are kept under constant review and new trades are introduced and existing ones modernised. In addition, the courses are being modified as necessary to meet the individual needs of employers nominating their workers for sponsored training.
§ Mr. HowieAm I to suppose that the range of skills and crafts taught is now much wider than it was two or three years ago? Does my hon. Friend believe that the provision of training places in Government centres is yet sufficient to meet the demand?
§ Mr. DellThe range of courses available is now much wider than it was two or three years ago. We are continuing to extend it as necessary. There are two main forms of training available, of which the most important and the one covering the largest number of people is training in industry. The Government training centres are intended to provide skilled training for very much more limited numbers of people. We are getting to the point at which we are meeting the demand, but if demand increases we will take note of that fact and try further to meet it.
§ Mr. ScottWill the hon. Gentleman say whether the Government training centres are still meeting any resistance from unions to so-called dilutees being 1693 turned out from the Government training centres?
§ Mr. DellThere are in most areas agreements with the trade unions. There are still occasional difficulties, but over the country as a whole this is not a major problem.