§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment what grants the Government will make in 1980–81 to encourage employers to release existing design staff to attend short courses of training in microelectronics as applied to product design.
§ Mr. Jim LesterI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission (MSC) that all industrial training boards (ITBs) have been asked to examine training needs resulting from microelectronics and that it will give priority to meeting demonstrated needs for financial support. MSC is discussing with the Engineering and Shipbuilding ITB's requests for £290,000 to help train 1,500–1,600 existing design staff in 1980–81 in microelectronics as applied to product design.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment what grants the Government will make in 1980–81 to finance seminars for managers to promote understanding of the effect on manpower training and industrial relations of the application of microelectronics and computers.
§ Mr. Jim LesterI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that discussions are well advanced with the Engineering and Shipbuilding Industry Training Boards which have sought £44,000 from MSC to mount seminars for 1,500–1,600 managers in 1980–81 covering manpower issues related to microelectronics and computers. Other 349W seminars are likely to be mounted by ITBs without specific MSC grant.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment what schemes will be funded by the Government in 1980–81 to explore the effects of the application of microelectronics on the training needs of maintenance staff.
§ Mr. Jim LesterI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission (MSC) that all industrial training boards (ITBs) have been asked to examine training needs created by microelectronics including where appropriate, those of maintenance staff. MSC itself, in consultation with industry, is keeping under continuous review the content of training opportunities scheme courses in maintenance and the need for new types of course, and also expects to complete by mid-1981 an examination of the effects of microelectronics on skills required for office machinery maintenance.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment what funds the Government are intending to provide in 1980–81 for schemes designed to encourage more young people, especially girls, to take up training in occupations related to microelectronics and computers.
§ Mr. Jim LesterA range of occupations is relevant in different degrees to microelectronics applications. I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission (MSC) that in 1980–81 it intends, through the industrial training boards, other national training bodies and the National Computing Centre to make available about £3 million to grant-aid the training of 1,500 young people in basic computer programming. The MSC and others administering the grants are keeping in mind the career opportunities which training in computer programme can afford girls.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment what special efforts will be made by the Government in 1980–81 to assist small firms to cope successfully with the application of microelectronics to their businesses.
§ Mr. Jim LesterI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission (MSC) that it has asked all industrial training boards (ITBs) to devote special attention350W to analysing and helping firms meet training needs created by microelectronics in their industries.
The Engineering ITB in 1980–81 intends to mount seminars specifically for managers of small firms covering manpower issues raised and Chemical and Allied Products 1TB will be conducting meetings covering the same topic with managers of small and medium firms.
Many of the firms assisted so far under the various aspects of microprocessor application project administered by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry have been small firms. Of the 1,200 submissions received so far for the limited support available for consultancy advice to would-be first-time microelectronics applications, most are from small firms. This project will continue in 1980–81. Other activities will be directed towards problems of finance for small businesses in this area, and the provision of basic advice. The Department of Industry is also preparing a booklet entitled "Microprocessors and the small business," which should be published in the near future.