Training Opportunities (Hansard, 22 June 1976)

§ 12. Mr. Watkinson
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what further plans he has for expanding training opportunities in industry.

§ Mr. Harold Walker
In February my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that an extra £55 million would be made available this year to provide additional training. I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that financial support for up to 35,000 training places for new entrants in 1976–77—including over 26,000 extra places—has already been offered to industrial training boards. The MSC and the Government jointly will shortly be publishing a consultative document putting forward, without commitment, a possible scheme of collective funding for initial training in transferable skills in selected occupations.

§ Mr. Watkinson
I thank my hon. Friend for that reply. Does he accept that it is now an observable fact that in each succeeding business cycle the level of unemployment increases? Therefore, is it not now necessary to place industrial training in the absolute forefront of our industrial life? Will my hon. Friend observe the success which the Swedes have had in maintaining a low level of unemployment through industrial training, and will he seriously consider imposing a substantial general training levy on all firms?

§ Mr. Walker
My hon. Friend was correct in his opening reference to a discernible tendency towards higher unemployment. I think he recognises that the Government have indicated their commitment to an expansion of training by the significant extra sums of money they have made available for the purpose and the large increase in the number of skillcentre places available, in addition to the extra that we have provided for industry itself. Certainly there is a benefit in looking, as we have done, at the range of labour market policies which have been used in Sweden. The Swedes have applied not merely training but a whole range of policies.

§ Mr. Marten
In country towns which have industry but which are often quite a long way from retraining facilities, should we not encourage local authorities, local business men and local education interests to get together with industry to "do their own thing" much more in retraining unemployed people?

§ Mr. Walker
The hon. Gentleman will know that in respect of local government itself there is a local government training board run by the local authorities. I think that the arrangements that the Government have through the Manpower Services Commission and the Training Services Agency are sufficiently flexible to allow them to take into account the need of particular localities and the views and contribution that individual employers and authorities can make. But certainly what the hon. Gentleman has said deserves reflection.

§ Mr. Bryan Davies
Bearing in mind the deplorable record of British industry with regard to day release, what steps is my hon. Friend taking to ensure that, as the profitability of manufacturing industry increases, the record of day release of trainees will also improve?

§ Mr. Walker
Certainly, I think we would welcome any increase in facilities for day release, but my hon. Friend will realise that this is primarily a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science.