§ 15. Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he will next meet the general secretary of the Trades Union Congress to discuss the level of training in British industry.
§ Mr. HowardA discussion on training will take place at the next meeting of the National Economic Development Council on 9 January.
§ Mr. SheermanWill the Minister take an early opportunity to talk seriously to the Trades Union Congress about training? Is he aware that training is still at a dismally low level in this country compared with all our industrial competitors? Is he also aware that we are in 811 the middle of a massive recession which will get much worse and that employers are already pulling out of training? What does he intend to do about that?
§ Mr. HowardIf the hon. Gentleman were more interested in facts than fantasy, he would know that one of the most encouraging features of the most recent Confederation of British Industry survey was that, notwithstanding the difficulties that many of them are currently facing, more employers intend to increase their investment in training and innovation than to reduce it. We would not have seen that in the past, certainly not when the Labour party was in office.
§ Mr. Ian TaylorWhen my right hon. and learned Friend next meets the TUC, will he remind it that one of the best unions for training is the electricians' trade union which has its training headquarters in my constituency and, rather interestingly, is not part of the TUC? Does not that suggest that the TUC should pull its socks up?
§ Mr. HowardMy hon. Friend is right. My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State visited the training headquarters of the Electrical, Electronic, Telecommunications and Plumbing Union recently. lt has much to show the TUC and a good deal from which the TUC could learn.