§ 8. Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will have discussions with local authorities with a view to bringing about an increase in the staff of further education colleges so as to provide greater training facilities for unemployed school leavers in September 1976.
§ Mr. MulleyNo, Sir. The Government have made provision in the rate support grant settlement for 1976–77 to take account of some increase in staffing to match the forecast growth in the number of students, and the Training Services Agency provides additional resources for training facilities at colleges in appropriate cases. It is for the local authorities to decide whether additional staff are needed at particular colleges to provide greater training facilities.
§ Mr. HooleyIs my right hon. Friend satisfied that the co-ordination between the Training Services Agency and the further education colleges makes the 1418 most efficient use of the manpower we possess and are prepared to pay for in order to alleviate the problem of youth unemployment?
§ Mr. MulleyI think there is a good relationship between the TSA and the local authorities, but, as my hon. Friend will realise, in any event I have no power to make any direct payments to local authorities for particular purposes. The rate support grant settlement would, of course, be a very blunt instrument for what my hon. Friend has in mind. Naturally, if he has any particular problems and lets me know about them, I shall take them up with the TSA.