§ 13. Mr. Moyleasked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will seek powers to place the Local Government Training Board on a statutory basis under the Industrial Training Act.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity (Mr. Roy Hattersley)My right hon. Friend is considering the advisability of seeking such powers.
§ Mr. MoyleIs my hon. Friend aware that the present voluntary levy is bringing in only about half the money necessary for a comprehensive training scheme in local authorities, and will not this lead to a considerable wastage of potential skilled manpower unless a statutory scheme is introduced?
§ Mr. HattersleyThere is by definition some difficulty in running an effective training board on a purely voluntary basis, and this was one of the considerations which my right hon. Friend and other members of the Cabinet have had to consider. In fact, much of the provision which is properly under the aegis of other industrial training boards covers local authority employees.
§ Dame Irene WardThis is an important matter for a large number of people. If action is not to be included in the next Queen's Speech, could something be done under a Ten Minute Rule Bill or in some other way to set things going?
§ Mr. HattersleyPrecisely because it is an important matter covering a large number of people, our final decision about such a board has to be preceded by adequate consultation.