§ 1. Mr. Ray PowellTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total funding for each individual TEC in Wales for 1990–91; and what is the total individual funding for 1991–92.
§ The Minister of State, Welsh Office (Sir Wyn Roberts)As the answer contains a lot of figures, I will, with permission Mr. Speaker, arrange for them to be printed in the Official Report. However, I can assure the hon. Gentleman that there was a substantial increase in funding for each training and enterprise council this year on the year before.
§ Mr. PowellWe usually get the figures in the replies to questions. It is difficult to question the Minister when we have not been given the figures. Most people in Wales are sick and tired of the glossy brochures that confuse the issue of training in Wales and TECs. Is the Minister aware that since CATO closed in my constituency, 230 training places remain to be filled and 35 trainers have yet to find jobs? That is the position with TECs in Mid Glamorgan. The whole of the Principality—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. One question please.
§ Mr. PowellI shall be brief, Mr. Speaker, but this question covers a wide subject.
In March, an inquiry was called for into the case of manager Dereck Jones, who took away property belonging to Llynfi workshop. I demand a reply from the Minister about my request for an inquiry into the financial ramifications for Mid Glamorgan TECs.
§ Sir Wyn RobertsI told the hon. Gentleman that each TEC had received an increase in funding. Mid Glamorgan received an increase from £14.9 million in 1990–91 to £21.1 million in 1991–92. I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for drawing attention to the strategy document and for giving it publicity in the Chamber. That document is important, as every hon. Member concerned with training in Wales is fully aware. I am sorry that CATO, of which the hon. Gentleman was chairman, failed to achieve approved training organisation status, but he must not keep on digging and hitting at the Mid Glamorgan TECs on that account. That is small-minded of him.
§ Mr. GristIs my right hon. Friend aware that I welcome the transfer next April to his Department of the responsibility for training and TECs, and I hope that that will mean a better-focused and relevant service for his and my constituents.
§ Sir Wyn RobertsI am absolutely certain that that is what it will mean. The transfer of responsibility for training to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, initiated by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, makes a great deal of sense. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will combine that responsibility with responsibility for education in schools and, we hope, in due course for further and higher education. He has set up a special unit to deal with the transfer.
§ Mr. Barry JonesHas not the right hon. Gentleman cut funding for training and cut training places for unemployed and young people? Has not he in effect created a hostile climate for companies such as Hoover and British Aerospace, which have had to slash their
3 apprenticeships? A modern, productive and competitive economy for Wales would be unattainable under the right hon. Gentleman's policies.
§ Sir Wyn RobertsThe hon. Gentleman cannot possibly have listened to the reply that I gave to his hon. Friend the Member for Ogmore (Mr. Powell). The amount available to all the TECs in Wales increased from £49.1 million to £117.1 million this year. I dare say that there will be an increase next year. The hon. Gentleman will be aware that an extra £11 million has been devoted to employment training this year. We are taking all possible steps to ensure that we have a well-trained and well-educated work force for the future.
§ The total funding for each TEC in Wales is shown in the following table:
| TEC | Operational Start Dates | 1990–91 | 1991–92 |
| £ million | £ million | ||
| Mid Glamorgan | 23 July 1990 | 14.9 | 21.1 |
| West Wales | 23 July 1990 | 20.4 | 31.5 |
| North East Wales | 17 September 1990 | 6.2 | 13.6 |
| North West Wales | 4 February 1991 | 1.8 | 13.6 |
| South Glamorgan | 4 February 1991 | 3.4 | 14.1 |
| Gwent | 4 February 1991 | 2.4 | 18.4 |
| Powys | 2 April 1991 | Nil | 4.8 |
§ Note: It should be borne in mind that the 1990–91 budgets are for the period of TEC operation only and vary in the periods they cover because TECs became operational at differing times.