HC Deb 24 April 1990 vol 171 cc147-8
8. Mr. Moss: T

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many applications have been approved for career development loans.

Mr. Eggar

Since the career development loans became available nationally in July 1988, more than 8,300 people have taken advantage of career development loans to pay for their own vocational training. Those loans had a total value of more than £20 million.

Mr. Moss

After last year's expansion of some 48 per cent. in the career development loan programme, can my hon. Friend confirm that it is due to increase by a further 65 per cent. in the current year? Is that a concrete example of the Government's commitment to increase incentives and opportunities for people to train?

Mr. Eggar

I can certainly confirm that. The programme is an extremely exciting and innovative proposal, which has been widely accepted and taken up. It is a cost-effective way in which people can get additional vocational qualifications to further their careers.

Mr. Rowe

Is not it true that the gradual shift towards people appreciating that training themselves is their responsibility and their opportunity constitutes our best chance of turning the country into one which can compete with our European competitors in training? Will my hon. Friend confirm that the career development loans are just one shot in an armoury, which I hope is well stocked, of measures that will encourage people to take responsibility for their own training?

Mr. Eggar

Yes. That is also the thought behind the formation of the new training and enterprise councils, which are designed so that local employers can provide the kind of training and enterprise assistance appropriate to the locality. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State recently announced the training credit system to help young people. That is yet another example of the kind outlined by my hon. Friend.