HC Deb 02 November 1979 vol 972 c689W
Mr. Marlow

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will consider passing the control of skillcentres to boards of directors whose majority would be made up of industrialists, and allowing such boards flexibility with regard to individual (a) rates of pay of staff, (b) levels of activity and (c) charges.

Mr. Jim Lester

The TOPS review, published last year, recommended that skillcentres should seek to become better known to local industry in their areas and more responsive to its needs, but also recognised that skillcentres should continue to serve national as well as local needs, and the needs of individuals as well as of industry. While we are constantly making efforts to come closer to these objectives, I am satisfied that they are best met if skillcentres are managed by the regional organisation of the Manpower Services Commission's training services division.

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