HC Deb 26 April 1983 vol 41 cc716-7
5. Mr. Renton

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much of the education budget is now being spent on the education of adults and their retraining for new jobs.

The Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science (Mr. William Shelton)

In 1982–83, some £750 million of my right hon. Friend's programme was spent by local education authorities, universities and other agencies on the vocational and general education of adults, including retraining.

Mr. Renton

I am aware of the progress that is being made under the scheme called "Pickup" for those in jobs, but what is being done for unemployed adults? Does my hon. Friend agree that those who are declared redundant in middle age—as Labour Members will be at the next general election—may be most in need of educational help to prepare them for new jobs and vocations?

Mr. Shelton

I thank my hon. Friend for his kind reference to "Pickup". It is an example of a good programme on a modest budget. It is a pity that the Labour Government did not introduce a similar scheme.

We commissioned a study on the adult unemployed from the Advisory Council for Adult and Continuing Education, which we are studying. Local education authorities and voluntary organisations have also been helpful. In almost every case the unemployed receive either free courses in adult education or courses at vastly reduced rates.

Mr. Dormand

When will adult education be put on a legislative basis?

Mr. Shelton

We are considering that matter and will make an announcement in due course.

Mr. Squire

Does my hon. Friend accept that it is faintly anachronistic to spend more than 99 per cent. of the education budget on education up to and including university when the greater proportion of the population subsequently have a tiny proportion of the education budget? Will he continue to fight his right hon. and hon. Friends within the Department and the Treasury to obtain a greater share of the resources for that highly cost-effective form of spending?

Mr. Shelton

My hon. Friend is overstating the difficulty. The figure that I quoted is nearly 7 per cent. of recurrent education expenditure, but when times improve we shall spend more on adult education.

Mr. John Evans

What is the purpose of spending public money to train an unemployed bricklayer to become an unemployed joiner?

Mr. Shelton

The hon. Gentleman is mistaken. This is a matter for the Manpower Services Commission, not the Department of Education and Science. It has always seemed to me to be the weakest of cases to say that people should not be trained because they may not get a job after training.