Information Technology: Training Centres (Hansard, 16 January 1984)

§ Viscount Mersey
My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

§ The Minister of State, Scottish Office (Lord Gray of Contin)
My Lords, there are currently 122 information technology centres established and a further 22 are at an advanced stage of development and should be operating shortly.

§ Viscount Mersey
My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that reply. Will he confirm that the academic standard of the students at these centres is chiefly specialised in the direction of games such as space invaders? Will he also tell us what percentage of these students actually get jobs in the computer industry?

§ Lord Gray of Contin
My Lords. I can answer my noble friend on that point by saying that we are very satisfied with the standards which have been attained and which are being attained. It is also interesting to note that the percentage for which my noble friend asks ranges between 65 per cent. and 70 per cent., which I believe by any standards is very satisfactory.

§ Lord Avebury
My Lords, will the Minister say what proportion of the young people coming forward for training at these information technology centres are from the ethnic minorities, and whether the Government will take advantage of the provisions in the Race Relations Act, which provide for special training to be given to the ethnic minorities when they are under-represented in that profession?

§ Lord Gray of Contin
My Lords, I am afraid that I cannot accurately answer the noble Lord on that point, but I shall make the necessary inquiries and let him know. However, my advice is that the opportunities are available to everybody, and it is hoped that they are being taken up by the ethnic minorities as well as by others.

§ Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos
My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that we welcome the information that he has given about the progress that is being made? Is he aware that these centres could be of considerable help in areas of high unemployment—in development areas? Can the noble Lord say what is the spread of the 836 number of these centres: how many are there in northern England, Scotland and in Wales? Is it likely that there will be an emphasis on siting them in areas where unemployment is a particularly difficult problem?

§ Lord Gray of Contin
My Lords, the noble Lord raises a very important point. At present eight centres are sited in Wales, 15 in Scotland, and the remainder are in England. We are particularly anxious that the numbers should be increased; and, indeed there are arrangements at the present moment which indicate that the number will increase to about 175. There is no scarcity of sponsors; people are very anxious to be helpful in this matter. The point which the noble Lord has made about the siting of these centres will certainly be kept in mind.

§ Baroness Seear
My Lords, will the Minister confirm that a high level of numeracy is not necessary for people to take advantage of the courses in this "high tech" training, and therefore they should not be put off because they believe that their level of numeracy is inadequate?

§ Lord Gray of Contin
My Lords, we shall do our utmost to ensure that this is so. Of course, apart from the information technology centres, the youth training schemes themselves are incorporating a measure of this instruction in the schemes which they are offering.

§ Lord Taylor of Blackburn
My Lords, when the Minister gives the information for which he has been asked, will he break it down into sexes, as to the number of boys and girls going to these centres?

§ Lord Gray of Contin
My Lords, again, I am afraid that this is something which I cannot tell the noble Lord at the moment; but I shall certainly note it and let him have the information.

§ Baroness David
My Lords, is the Minister able to say who is giving the instruction at these centres and whether local colleges of further education are providing the teaching or is it coming from a different source?

§ Lord Gray of Contin
My Lords, I can tell the noble Baroness that there is a mixture. Indeed, some of the money which has been made available through grant aid has been used to ensure that the standard and quality of those who are instructing is maintained.