HC Deb 03 December 1985 vol 88 cc138-9
2. Mrs. Clwyd

asked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement about training for unemployed adults.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Employment (Mr. Alan Clark)

We have increased the number of unemployed people helped through the Manpower Services Commission's adult training programme. This year we aim to help to train some 200,000 adults, about half of whom will be unemployed people.

Mrs. Clwyd

Will the Minister confirm that the Manpower Services Commission is to cut £15 million from adult training in the community programme? Will he make a statement that will show the long-term unemployed that he is concerned about their future and is willing for them at least to have the limited opportunities that the community programme affords them?

Mr. Clark

It is true that the take-up of off-the-job training places in the community programme is disappointingly low. For that reason, it is appropriate to divert the resources and use them in other forms of training. I draw the hon. Lady's attention to the fact that training expenditure has gone up from £458 million in 1979–80 to £1.2 billion in 1984–85 and to £1.23 million in 1985–86.

Mr. Latham

Is my hon. Friend aware that where the Paymaster General met a deputation of the Knitting Industries Federation from the east midlands he gave the impression that the Government were thinking of making more help available to adult training and retraining? Has he any statement to make on this matter?

Mr. Clark

I do not know about the knitting industry, but I can tell my hon. Friend that the amount of money devoted to training increases year by year and has more than doubled in real terms in the life of this Parliament.

Mr. Sheerman

The Minister has made a most dishonest statement—

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Gentleman cannot use that word.

Mr. Sheerman

The Minister is seeking to mislead the House.

Mr. Speaker

Order. That is also an unparliamentary expression.

Mr. Sheerman

I withdraw both those expressions. The Minister is inaccurate in talking about an increase in training for the adult unemployed when there have been dreadful cuts in the skillcentre network. The Government promised that this money would be switched to the community programme for training. Not only have the skillcentres been cut to the bone, but now we have cuts in the promised training of people on the community programme. When will the Government commit themselves to quality training for the unemployed?

Mr. Clark

I have already answered the question about training on and off the community programme. The provision is there, but the places are not being taken up. The number of adults who have been helped under the training scheme since 1983 has doubled, and the amount of expenditure since the Conservative Government were first elected in 1979 has nearly trebled.