HL Deb 28 October 1981 vol 424 cc1067-8

2.44 p.m.

Lord Campbell of Croy

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 when they expect to take decisions on the future of individual industrial training boards.

Lord Lyell

My Lords, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for employment hopes to be able to make an announcement about the future of individual boards early in the next Session.

Lord Campbell of Croy

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that reply as regards timing, which I am sure will be helpful to the industries concerned. In those cases, if any, where the Government are considering the abolition of a training board, will they give the industry concerned the opportunity and the time to suggest alternative arrangements for training?

Lord Lyell

My Lords, as regards further time, I do not think that I can go much further than my original Answer, because I understand that comments on training arrangements were to be submitted by the end of September. I think that at present my right honourable friend is considering all the comments that have come in from the many boards, and no doubt he will have the final say in the new Session.

Lord Rochester

My Lords, whether in future industrial training is to be done under statutory boards or by voluntary arrangements, if programmes such as the New Training Initiative and the Open-Tech are to succeed, is it not essential that there should be some overall statutory framework providing adequate local, national and cross-sectoral links?

Lord Lyell

My Lords, the Government's overall view is that the objectives of adequate industrial training are best achieved by voluntary methods, be that on any local or, indeed, any overall basis.

Lord Orr-Ewing

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that in industry there is the feeling that a large number of these industrial training boards should be abolished? However, is he equally aware that in the service industries and in the high technology industries it is very important to preserve these industrial training boards, as there is an urgent need to give, in particular, young people the higher skills, which are so badly needed in industry?

Lord Lyell

My Lords, to both the questions asked by my noble friend, the answer is, indeed, Yes.

Lord Kilmarnock

My Lords, can the noble Lord say whether or not the Government intend to publish their reaction to the Manpower Services' Commission's board by board industry survey and, if so, when?

Lord Lyell

My Lords, I am afraid that I am not in a position to give the noble Lord a precise answer. Perhaps I could write to him about the matter.

Lord Wallace of Coslany

My Lords, will the noble Lord not agree that in the present economic state of the country to think of either abolishing or reducing the powers of the industrial training boards is completely against the interests of the country? This is a very serious matter. We shall certainly monitor any replies that he may give and watch developments in the future, because this is a very critical issue.

Lord Lyell

My Lords, I am sure that the noble Lord and, indeed, the House, will agree that there is no single blueprint or, indeed, single track for any training arrangements, be they voluntary or otherwise. To insist that all training arrangements should conform to any set pattern would not help industry, nor, I believe, the economy.

Lord Campbell of Croy

My Lords, in regard to what the noble Lord, Lord Wallace, has said, will my noble friend agree that this is a good moment for a review of all the arrangements, even if no change is made?

Lord Lyell

My Lords, my noble friend is absolutely correct. My right honourable friend is considering all the views that have been expressed to him and he will be giving his views very early in the next Session.