§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Employment why the Manpower Services Commission no longer funds completely the engineering practice scholarship scheme run by the engineering industry training board; what difference he expects this to make to the numbers of students who are able to participate in this scheme; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe Manpower Services Commission has changed the basis of its support for the engineering practice scholarship scheme run by the Engineering Training Board. The aim is to bring the arrangements for funding college-based sandwich course students who go on industrial placements with firms in scope to the engineering industry training board into line with the arrangements for funding students on placements with other firms. This has enabled the Commission to increase the total number of sandwich course students who can be supported in this way from 2,000 in 1981–82 to 2,500 in 1982–83. The extra places will be concentrated in key engineering and technology occupations.