HC Deb 19 March 1974 vol 870 cc841-2
16. Mr. Huckfield

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement on the future financing of industry training boards.

Mr. Harold Walker

Under present arrangements made to implement the Employment and Training Act 1973, training boards will be financed after 1st April 1975 partly from levy paid by employers who are not exempted from levy and partly from Exchequer funds made available through the Manpower Services Commission.

Mr. Huckfield

Is my hon. Friend aware of the tremendous uncertainties created in training boards, particularly arising from some of the public expenditure cuts by the previous Government? Will he re-examine the subject, particularly the desirability of increasing the Government's contribution towards the administration and financing of training boards?

Mr. Walker

The Manpower Services Commission is preparing its forward plans and I am extremely anxious to see them before making any further statement. My hon. Friend may certainly be assured that we are anxious as quickly as possible to expand both training and retraining.

Mr. Woodhouse

Do the Government intend to raise the limit on the levy which the industrial training boards are empowered to raise?

Mr. Walker

I should like to see the Manpower Services Commission's own forward plans before making any commitment.

Mr. Hooley

Does my hon. Friend agree that training and retraining are vital to the development of British industry, and will he make the earliest possible statement on Government policy in this respect?

Mr. Walker

Yes, certainly.