§ 38. Mr. Brocklebank-Fowlerasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the future of the Construction Industry Training Board.
§ Mr. BryanAs my right hon. Friend informed my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, West (Mr. John Page) on 14th January, the Constructional Industry Training Board has accepted his offer of a loan of up to —8 million. I hope that the assistance provided by this loan and the action in progress by the Board to place its operations on a secure financial basis will now enable the Board to concentrate on its training work. The future of the training boards generally is, as the House knows, at present under review.
§ 39. Mr. Jeffrey Archerasked the Secretary of State for Employment, in view of the current financial position of the building industry, if he will take steps, by legislation or otherwise, to afford relief 165W to small builders who cannot afford to pay their dues to the Construction Industry Training Board.
§ Mr. BryanI have no power to amend at this stage the Board's current levy order so as to vary any employer's liability under it. For the future, I have asked the Board to consider seriously the scope for the exemption of small firms and I shall look particularly at this when considering their next levy proposals.