§ 13. Mr. Adam Butlerasked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the numbers of people who have passed through government training centres in the last 12 months; what are the expected numbers for the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement on his industrial training policy.
§ Mr. Bryan15,800 completed courses in the 12 months up to March, 1971, and the estimate for the next year is 17,000 or more. We shall continue to expand Government training facilities.
§ Mr. ButlerI welcome this increase in numbers, but does not my hon. Friend agree that this is still a small proportion of the total labour force? Will he not consider making available some of the energies and facilities of the industrial 565 training boards for the improvement of Government training centres?
§ Mr. BryanDespite the great expansion there has been over the last years in Government training centres, they still represent a small proportion of the labour force. In an announcement made by my right hon. Friend on 4th November, he said that the number of training places with G.T.C.s would be increased by a further 2,000. This brings the places up to 14,000 by 1975, which means that the output in a full year will be about 20,000.