§ 5. Mr. Emeryasked the Minister for the Civil Service what steps have been taken in the last two years to encourage and to allow civil servants to obtain specific professional management qualifications; and how many members of the Civil Service have attended functional or professional management courses not run or sponsored by the Civil Service.
§ Mr. George ThomsonI have been asked to reply.
In August, 1967, we increased the help available to civil servants who study externally for recognised educational or professional qualifications in a wide range of subjects, including management. 5,714 civil servants from home Departments, excluding the Post Office, attended such courses in the two training years 1st August, 1966, to 31st July, 1968.
§ Mr. EmeryDo the appropriate Departments consult professional management organisations to see whether some of the courses which are run could be specifically tailored to deal with some of 5 the specialist needs of the Civil Service and, in that way, be able to get a better co-operation from the professional management organisations as well as getting better use for the Civil Service?
§ Mr. ThomsonIf the hon. Gentleman has any specific suggestions in this field, in which I know he is expertly involved, I am sure that my right hon. Friend would wish to hear them. He should feel reassured by the figures that I have announced, because the overall 5,700 represents a rise from 2,500 in the first training year to 3,200 in the second.
§ Mr. AndersonWill the courses to which the civil servants now go be to some extent replaced by courses at the Civil Service College? Before sanctioning any particular management courses at the college, would my right hon. Friend try to ensure that they do not duplicate existing facilities in other institutions of higher education?
§ Mr. ThomsonI think that the best thing I can do is to draw my right hon. Friend's attention to my hon. Friend's suggestion.