Irvine Skillcentre

HC Deb 15 February 1984 vol 54 cc247-8

2. Mr. Lambie

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will pay a visit to Irvine Skillcentre.

The Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Allan Stewart

My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so at present.

Mr. Lambie

Although the Secretary of State has no plans to visit Irvine skillcentre, I hope that he will do so in the immediate future. Is the Minister aware that the management control of skillcentres has now passed to the Skillcentres Training Agency, and that a review of the future of skillcentres is being undertaken by that agency? Can the Minister give the House any information about the decisions taken at a meeting of the MSC on 26 January, when the future of the skillcentres was discussed? Will any of those decisions affect Irvine skillcentre?

Mr. Stewart

I confirm to the hon. Gentleman, as the White Paper, "Training for Jobs" stated, that the MSC's training programme must be more closely related to specific rather than speculative training demands. Skillcentres will have to adjust to changing demands. It is worth noting that the recent announcement that SCI Systems Incorporated and the Climax Computer Corporation will move to Irvine will create opportunities for more business to come to Irvine skillcentre.

Mr. Corrie

Is my hon. Friend aware that the unemployed have more chance of obtaining work if they are skilled, so it is extremely important that these skillcentres should continue? Does he accept that in an area of high unemployment, such as Cunninghame, there are not enough private firms to finance the teaching and training of those youngsters, and that anything the Government can do to help these skillcentres will be extremely important, especially now that we have—

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Gentleman must relate his question to Irvine skillcentre.

Mr. Stewart

I can confirm to my hon. Friend that skillcentres will continue to play an important role, and I emphasise that we are talking about an adult training programme in which the number of training places will increase from the present 110,000 to 250,000.

Mr. McKelvey

Although I accept that new skills are coming into Ayrshire that may help Irvine skillcentre, does the Minister appreciate that that is a traditional engineering area? Does he further accept that, since engineering outlets are rapidly disappearing, if the upturn in the economy which we have been promised should occur, it will be necessary to maintain Irvine skillcentre for engineering processes? Will the Minister bear that in mind if and when there is a threat to close that skillcentre?

Mr. Stewart

I note what the hon. Gentleman has said, and no doubt the MSC will also note it. As I emphasised in response to the question from his hon. Friend, it is important for skillcentres to take every opportunity to look at possible new demands for their services.

Mr. Craigen

In view of the importance that the Minister constantly says he attaches to adult and youth training, will he give a firm undertaking to the House today that he will visit Irvine skillcentre, and, for that matter, Hillington and the ever-threatened Dumbarton skillcentre, and others in Scotland, to ensure that the maximum use is made of their facilities?

Mr. Stewart

I shall continue to have a well-balanced programme of visits around Scotland.