HL Deb 07 August 1975 vol 363 cc1833-6
Baroness MACLEOD of BORVE

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 how many retraining centres there are, where they are, and how many unemployed people can be trained during any given period.

The MINISTER of STATE, SCOTTISH OFFICE (Lord Hughes)

My Lords, I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that there are at present 55 training centres, known as skill centres. In 1974, 17,117 people were trained and this figure will increase as more skill centres come into operation. Training is not limited to unemployed people, but all trainees must be prepared to leave their jobs before commencing training. With permission, I will arrange for the location of the skill centres to be circulated in theOfficial Report.

Following are the locations referred to:

Scotland:

North East:

North West

Midlands:

Wales and West:

South East:

London:

Baroness MACLEOD of BORVE

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that Answer. Can he tell me whether there is any age limit for these retraining schemes and in the centres?

Lord HUGHES

Obviously, my Lords, no age limit is laid down, but presumably there could be cases where individual circumstances would have to be taken into account.

Lord POPPLEWELL

My Lords, could my noble friend give the House the assurance that men are being retrained in skills for jobs that will be available to them when seeking further employment?

Lord HUGHES

Yes, my Lords, the courses at skill centres are mainly for craft operations such as the construction trade, engineering production, engineering servicing, electrical and electronic trades and plant and automotive trades. The courses are highly intensive and last for periods varying from six to 12 months, according to the trade. In each case, the syllabus is agreed with both sides of the industry concerned.

Baroness GAITSKELL

My Lords, could the Minister say whether it is true that we are still lagging far behind other countries of the European Community in this respect?

Lord HUGHES

I am sorry, my Lords; I am not aware of how far these other countries may or may not be ahead of us. But, certainly, we are making a very determined effort to get this on to a proper basis.

Lord LEATHERLAND

My Lords, is my noble friend quite sure that it is proper to train men for the construction trades when there are already a number of unemployed in that industry and when, if Government economies are brought into effect, there will be far less money to be spent on roadmaking and similar projects? Further, is my noble friend aware that at the moment there is also unemployment in the motor manufacturing trade, and that if the Ryder Report is carried into effect there will be further attacks made on the so-called over-manning in the motor industry?

Lord HUGHES

My Lords, both those points are very relevant at this time. It is not part of the Government's programme to plan for permanent reductions in these industries. So far as the construction industry is concerned—of which I can claim to have some experience—even in times of high unemployment there are shortages within certain trades, and we have all had the experience of jobs being held up because of the inability to provide tradesmen of a particular kind. It may well be that this sort of scheme could facilitate changing between one trade and another within the construction industry

Lord POPPLEWELL

My Lords, could my noble friend say whether any record is kept of men so trained having obtained jobs after the fulfilment of their qualifying period?

Lord HUGHES

My Lords, one of the disadvantages of being spokesman in this House for a Department of which one is not a Minister, is that if one does not get a brief giving the answer one cannot call on one's own knowledge. This question falls into that category; I have no knowledge. However, I will arrange for my noble friend to receive a written answer on this point.

Baroness MACLEOD of BORVE

My Lords, while I have every sympathy with the noble Lord, especially today, may I ask whether it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to retrain people who are willing to work elsewhere, or whether they would prefer to see those people receiving social security in their original areas of employment?

Lord HUGHES

My Lords, obviously it is the Government's policy to train people who are willing to work. People go on to these courses entirely voluntarily, so there should be no particular difficulty on that aspect. Incidentally, I do not know why the noble Baroness should feel a need to sympathise with me today. As may be said later, it may be a matter of congratulation.

Lord BRUCE of DONINGTON

My Lords, will my noble friend say whether the Government have any facilities in mind for the retraining of those people whose principal function is to make money, into actually earning it?

Lord HUGHES

My Lords. I wonder whether my noble friend would be kind enough to repeat his supplementary question, so that I may ponder on it a little further?

Lord BRUCE of DONINGTON

My Lords, I asked my noble friend whether Her Majesty's Government are considering any facilities for the retraining of those people whose principal function in life is to make money, in order that they may earn it?

Lord HUGHES

My Lords, I am afraid, having heard the question a second time, that I am not in any better position to answer it.

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