HL Deb 09 February 1990 vol 515 cc1027-9

11.15 a.m.

Baroness Turner of Camden asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the present position concerning the reconstitution of the Construction Industry Training Board, and when an announcement will be made.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Employment (Lord Strathclyde)

My Lords, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Employment is firmly committed to reconstituting the Construction Industry Training Board. The main employer organisations have been consulted about the membership of the new board. He expects to be able to make an announcement shortly.

Baroness Turner of Camden

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply. However, will he take account of the fact that the uncertainty is creating a great deal of concern among the staff? Quite obviously morale is not improved by the uncertainties surrounding the issue. Will he bear in mind that in such circumstances very often highly skilled staff can obtain jobs elsewhere? If we wish to maintain a reasonable standard of staff at the CITB it is necessary to take account of all these factors.

Lord Strathclyde

My Lords, the Government of course do not wish to see any lessening of morale within the training board. Our intention is to appoint the right people as soon as possible. Until then the existing board remains in place.

Lord Mellish

My Lords, the Minister will be aware that the CITB is one of the finest in the country. That is accepted by all parties. I am making a non-party political point. In heaven's name, why do the Government have to muck about with what is already running very well and doing fine? Why cause concern and unhappiness among people who are doing a first-class job? Is such concern not the fault of the Government? The Government do not know when to stop.

Lord Strathclyde

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Mellish, is not quite right on that. We spent a great deal of time in the Committee stage of the Employment Bill last year discussing this precise point. The Committee came to the conclusion that the new proposals were the correct way to go forward. The CITB has been kept on as a training board precisely because it was seen to be doing a good job.

Baroness Turner of Camden

My Lords, perhaps I may come back to the Minister on his first reply. He stated that there would be consultation and that such consultations were proceeding. He referred to consultation with employers. Can he tell the House what consultations are taking place with organisations which represent employees within the industry?

Lord Strathclyde

My Lords, the General Secretary of the TUC has suggested names to the Secretary of State and these will be considered.

Lord Auckland

My Lords, in declaring my interest as a non-executive director of a small construction and civil engineering company, may I urge my noble friend to make representations that the announcement is made soon? Is he aware that the industry needs many young people to keep our very fine construction industry going? When the reconstitution takes place, will the youth training scheme play an important part?

Lord Strathclyde

My Lords, with regard to the timescale, we shall be making an announcement as soon as possible.

Lord Mellish

My Lords, what does that mean?

Lord Strathclyde

My Lords, as soon as possible means very shortly indeed.

Many commercial YT managing agents already exist and supply high quality training. I understand that others within the departing sectors are developing further proposals.

Lord Molloy

My Lords, can the Minister be a little more specific? A remarkable situation is developing. Can the Minister enlarge on what part of the statement of the noble Lord, Lord Mellish, he finds inaccurate?

Lord Strathclyde

My Lords, it was not the statement of the noble Lord, Lord Mellish, that was inaccurate. My point was that it was policy decision that we took in this House last October. I am simply making the point that we had discussed it at some considerable length some months ago.

Lord Molloy

My Lords, will the Minister answer the first part of the question? Instead of saying "in the near future", or "in a few weeks' time" —he has not even said that —can we assume that within one month from today the matter will be completed to everyone's satisfaction?

Lord Strathclyde

My Lords, I am not sure that I could ever do anything to the satisfaction of the noble Lord, Lord Molloy. We are looking for the right people to sit on the board. That is what is important. We are trying to do it as quickly as possible but I cannot give a firm date.