§ Mr. Chapmanasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the expansion of the mobile instructor service announced as part of the proposals for the future of the skillcentre training agency.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe proposed expansion of the skillcentre training agency's mobile instructor force to around 300 staff would enable the agency to deliver training wherever and whenever employers needed it:. The mobile force would concentrate on new technology skills which are vital to the country's future economic well-being. To keep the force up-to-date it is proposed that 100 of the staff should be recruited on short-term contracts.
§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give an assurance that, whenever possible, the instructional staff who will be affected by the proposed skillcentre closures will be retained so that their skills can be retained by the Manpower Services Commission.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonIf its proposals are agreed, the skillcentre training agency intends that 200 of the 300 instructors required for the greatly expanded mobile instructor force would come from among its existing instructors. The agency also intends that whenever possible it will retain instructors through retraining and redeployment.
§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Secretary of State for Employment what will be the effect of proposals for the future of the skillcentre training agency on its new technology training.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonIn 1985–86 the skillcentre training agency proposes to deliver 12 per cent. more new technology training in specialist classes—including that carried out in its new technology access centres—than this year. It would expect this upward trend to continue in 1986–87, both in skillcentres and through the expanded mobile instructor force, and is also increasingly incorporating new technology elements in other courses.