§ Mr. Prescottasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will instruct the Training Services Agency to conduct an inquiry into the rundown of engineering training apprenticeship schemes available for school leaves in the current year in the Hull area.
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§ Mr. Harold WalkerI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the Engineering Industry Training Board, in common with other industrial training boards, is aware of the problem to which my hon. Friend refers and is watching the situation closely in all areas. The commission therefore considers such an inquiry unnecessary.
My hon. Friend may be aware that the Board, with financial assistance from the TSA, has mounted a training award scheme to provide up to 3,000 new entrants with full-time, first year off-the-job craft or technician training in board centres, group training centres, colleges of further education and employers' training centres. A proportion of these awards will be available to young persons in the Hull area.
§ Mr. Prescottasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many engineering training opportunity places have been made available in the Hull area for each of the years since the inception of the scheme in 1972; and what is the estimate for 1975.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that training in engineering under the Training Opportunities Scheme is available at Hull Skillcentre. The number of places available in 1973, 1974 and the estimate for 1975 is 68, 64 and 74 respectively, producing 112, 118 and 125—estimated—trained workers. In addition, as arrangements can be made, some engineering training is provided in employers' establishments. 11 people were trained in this way in 1974 and eight are currently being trained.
§ Mr. Prescottasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many engineering apprenticeships were available in the Hull area for each of the years since 1970; and what is the estimate for 1975.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the information is not readily available. To obtain it it would require a special survey of the area.
§ Mr. Prescottasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many engineering companies pay a training levy; 39W how many are exempted; how many offer apprenticeship schemes; and what, in each case, is their proportion of the total.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerI regret that the information could not be obtained in the time available, but I shall circulate it in theOfficial Report as soon as possible.