§ 17. Mr. Maddanasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will initiate a programme to encourage young management to acquire a greater understanding of European marketing problems as a means of stimulating the British export effort.
§ Mrs. Gwyneth DunwoodyI endorse the need to encourage young management to acquire a greater understanding of European marketing problems, but I do not think that, given the marketing courses already available, a specific initiative is required by the Board of Trade.
Mr. MaddenIs not the Parliamentary Secretary aware that not a great deal must have been done in the way she suggests? Should not the British National Export Council take an initiative to stimulate the provision of such courses?
§ Mrs. DunwoodyI am sure that the hon. Gentleman is aware that the National Marketing Council was assisted by the Board of Trade in 1966 and 1967 as a pump-priming operation, but it now runs very successful courses without any financial assistance from us.
§ Mr. RoebuckWould it not be far better if some companies spent more money on educating management instead of putting shareholders' money into the coffers of the Conservative Party?
§ Mrs. DunwoodyI am afraid that some companies do waste their money from time to time—and get a very poor return. The whole question of management is, in the final analysis, one for industry, and one hopes that industry will energetically undertake the job of training.