HC Deb 22 July 1986 vol 102 cc174-5
11. Mr. Rowe

asked the Paymaster General how many schools and colleges will be participating in the technical and vocational education initiative by the end of the current year.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

There are likely to be about 660 schools and colleges participating in the TVEI pilot projects by the end of 1986.

Mr. Rowe

Is that not a remarkable achievement, and one that is very much to be desired and that will go a long way towards meeting some of the skill shortages of which we have heard this afternoon? Will my right hon. and learned Friend take steps to ensure that when the young people concerned enter employment they are properly managed by kicking some of these companies —especially the 20 per cent. of large companies—which do no management training at all and therefore ill-treat or misuse the skills which my right hon. and learned Friend takes such care to develop at school?

Mr. Clarke

; I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his commendation of the steps that we have taken so far. Our experience shows that the improvement in the curriculum in schools and the greater work experience that it gives the pupils is now very popular with teachers, parents, pupils and potential employers of those coming out, which is why we have announced the national extension of the project. Industry still needs to put more effort into training in Britain. We continue to encourage firms to do so and we continue to give positive support to those firms which do.

Mr. Eastham

In uttering statements about making available £900 million over 10 years, was the Paymaster General not deceiving the people, because in fact only £12 million has been allocated for next year and only £41 million for the year after, which is only a drop in the ocean?

Mr. Clarke

The national extension is being phased in, which is why the expenditure builds up to an average of £90 million a year over the next 10 years. Obviously, it is necessary to phase in the national extension, building on the success of the pilots. The figure that we and the hon. Gentleman have cited is being provided for the initiative because of its value to pupils and industry.