§ Mr. Hayhoeasked the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate he has made of the number of applicants whose training commenced last year under industrial training boards and who have been unable to find appointments in industry for completing their apprenticeships; and what plans he has for dealing with this problem.
§ Mr. GoldingI am advised by the Manpower Services Commission that industrial training boards have informed the Training Services Agency that they are likely to need extra help in placing some 3,400 of the total of 6,221 young people who began training under board sponsorship last year. The agency is accordingly meeting the cost of recruitment grants which boards can offer to employers as an incentive for them to engage unplaced award holders. Any trainees still unplaced will be enabled to continue with sponsored training under board auspices.