HL Deb 17 December 1980 vol 415 cc1103-4

2.43 p.m.

Lord Glenarthur

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 what they are doing to ensure that schemes for the unemployed include an element of constructive training to the future benefit of the individual and the country as a whole.

The Earl of Gowrie

My Lords, I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that training and work experience given in their Youth Opportunities Programme or Special Temporary Employment Programme for unemployed young people or adults is related to the needs of both the participants and the local labour market. The training content of YOP is constantly being improved, and the Government and MSC believe training should play a significant part in the development of the enlarged special employment measures that will provide around 480,000 opportunities for young people and adults in 1981–82.

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, I thank the noble Earl for that reply, but can he say to what extent it is intended to increase the opportunity for training under the Youth Opportunities Programme to receive off-the-job training and further education? In particular, can he say what special attention is to be paid to training in the advanced technologies, such as electronics and micro-processors?

The Earl of Gowrie

My Lords, off-the-job learning is normally available on a day-release basis with a college of further education or other competent provider. In areas where no provision can be run, my information is that the MSC will fund block or residential courses. On the second part of my noble friend's supplementary question relating to new technology, I am glad to say that this will be a major feature of the schemes. We are most anxious to break down the myth that the new technologies are open only to people with high degrees of skills. The point of a machine is that people with relatively low skills can learn to operate it, and the MSC is providing courses in computer training for those with low educational attainments.