§ 2. Mr. Litterickasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied that sufficient funds are currently available for the sponsorship of all motor mechanic apprenticeships proposed by garage proprietors in the West Midlands.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Employment (Mr. John Golding)I am satisfied that there are sufficient funds available to the Road Transport Industry Training Board for the sponsorship of all motor mechanic apprenticeships proposed by garage proprietors in the West Midlands. Of course, it is a matter for the board to determine what grant it should make, over and above the Manpower Services Commission's key training grants which are available to all employers and other grants which are paid to employers who pay the levy and train to approved standards.
§ Mr. LitterickI must confess some surprise at my hon. Friend's answer in regard to the West Midlands since the facts as he relates them are not borne out. However, notwithstanding the increase in funds granted to the Road Transport Industry Training Board, will he bear in mind that there is considerable disappointment among employers such as garage proprietors who have made decisions about taking on apprentices in the Birmingham area only to discover later that the informal rationing system of funds used by the training board has meant that they have not had the financial support which they expected and that this in turn is leading to uncertainty in the employment of young people for training?
§ Mr. GoldingI understand the disappointment of both the employers and the apprentices concerned, but I wish to make it clear that I referred to the fact that funds were available to the board. The board has the money to deal with this problem and the board has the responsibility in this regard.
§ Mr. CopeThe board may have the funds in the West Midlands, but what does the Minister intend to do about the muddle in my area whereby employers who were promised by the training board premium grants for apprentices in the Bristol area are receiving them whereas those who were promised them in the Gloucester area are not receiving them?
§ Mr. GoldingThis is a question for the board, but the distinction is that whereas the board solicited apprenticeships throughout the country, it was only in one area that it actually promised them.