HL Deb 27 November 1974 vol 354 cc1395-7

2.41 p.m.

LORD GLADWYN

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the review of industrial training promised in the Earl of Gowrie's Statement of July, 1973, has now been conducted; when a Report based on it is likely to be published; and what provision for overseas students it contains.

LORD JACQUES

My Lords, the review to which the noble Earl, Lord Gowrie, referred has not yet been completed but my right honourable friend is considering this matter and hopes to be able to come to conclusions at an early date.

LORD GLADWYN

My Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that not very satisfactory reply, may I point out that this——

SEVERAL NOBLE LORDS: No!

LORD GLADWYN

My Lords, may I ask whether the noble Lord agrees that this matter has now been under review for nearly 18 months, which is rather a long time? Will the Government agree that it might be better not to refer this matter to, as I understand, a rather low level committee or Working Party coming under one Ministry, but to an interdepartmental committee representing all the interests of the students concerned, with a view to getting an urgent recommendation about the technical training of, at any rate, some overseas students during the coming year?

LORD JACQUES

My Lords, the Working Party concerned is fairly widely representative. It comprises representatives of the Ministry of Overseas Development, the British Council, the Council for Technical Education and Training for Overseas Countries, the Department of Trade, the Department of Employment, the training service agencies and the CBI.

LORD GLADWYN

Then, my Lords, why have they not managed with all that talent to produce some kind of recommendation before now?

LORD JACQUES

My Lords, it is not unknown that when there is too much talent there is too much delay.

LORD BLYTON

My Lords, is it not a fact that when you have so many experts you never get a decision?

LORD SAINSBURY

My Lords, can my noble friend enlighten me? I was not clear from his statement whether this Working Party has as yet met at all, or is not meeting till January 1 next year.

LORD JACQUES

My Lords, the Working Party has met. On more than one occasion it indicated the material that was required for study, and it took a considerable time to get the mass of information collected.

LORD BYERS

My Lords, when was the last occasion on which the Working Party actually met and what did the noble Lord mean by reporting "at an early date"? Is this before Christmas?

LORD JACQUES

My Lords. I think we should be quite clear that this Administration has been in Office since March, so its responsibility commences from March.

LORD CARRINGTON

It seems much longer!

LORD JACQUES

I am not surprised! My Lords, the Committee since then has met two or three times; I cannot give the precise number. We have not wasted a great deal of time. In the context of the statement that I have made, I would say that "early" would mean months rather than years.

LORD GLADWYN

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that the Government are not taking this matter seriously? I would now urge them to do so.

LORD JACQUES

My Lords, we take the original Question seriously, but I think the noble Lord will admit that some of the supplementaries were a little less serious.

SEVERAL NOBLE LORDS: No!