§ 13. Mr. Rathboneasked the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of trainees in the training opportunities programme have subsequently entered employment in their field of training or a related trade.
§ Mr. PriorI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that three months after completing their TOPS training during 1978–79, 59 per cent. of adults were in a job using the skills they had learnt. In discussions with the commission I have emphasised my concern that its training efforts should be aimed at providing the skills for tomorrow's needs, not yesterday's, and I will be having further discussions with it on ways of improving the training services it provides. I welcome useful suggestions on how this can best be achieved.
§ Mr. RathboneDoes not my right hon. Friend agree that this is a better application of Government expenditure than the vastly expensive jobcentres which are indiscriminate in their direction and in their constituency?
§ Mr. PriorI think that jobcentres have a part to play in improving the uptake of jobs, but I thing that the organisation has been a bit too extravagant in recent years, and we shall be looking at that problem. I am deeply dissatisfied with the amount of money we are spending as a nation—not just the Government—on training, and yet we have more vacancies for skilled people at a time of recession than ever before. Something is not right with our training exercise. A review is needed and is taking place. In due course we shall present proposals to the House.
§ Mr. HooleyIf the Secretary of State is dissatisfied with training, why has he cut back Government subventions to the training boards?
§ Mr. PriorI do not believe that I am cutting back on any subventions which are going into the provision of the skills of tomorrow. However, there is a lot of wasted expenditure on training boards, as on other parts of our training services. We are determined to put that right.