§ Mr. Moonmanasked the Secretary of State for Employment what facilities are available in the Essex County Council area, and Basildon in particular, for training and retraining; and what numbers can be accommodated.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that 261W there are over 575 training places available under the Training Opportunities Scheme in the Essex County Council area, including about 190 places in the Basildon area.
Of these 262 are in skillcentres, the rest being in colleges of further education and employers' establishments. The facilities available are flexible as TOPS trainees can be placed in any college vocational course to meet individual training requirements. On 31st March 1975, 504 people were receiving training under TOPS including 145 in the Basildon area.