§ Mr. Sheermanasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many proposals for new courses and projects have been (a) made and (b) approved in the last two years in respect of skillcentres that have been proposed for closure.
§ Mr. Peter Morrison[pursuant to his reply, 14 December 1984, c. 631]: In the skillcentres proposed for closure the skillcentre training agency has introduced in the last two years 27 wholly new adult training classes for the Manpower Services Commission's training division. This is in addition to the normal upgrading of existing provision in line with industrial requirements and technological change. Some 64 tailor-made courses have also been run exclusively for employers. There is no approval system for new courses, which are negotiated on a commercial basis.
§ Mr. Sheermanasked the Secretary of State for Employment what research has been (a) commissioned, (b) completed and (c) published at the instigation of himself or the Manpower Services Commission since 1979 into the role of industrial training boards, including the effectiveness of voluntary arrangements to replace the functions of former statutory industrial training boards; and if he will give a progress report of all such research not yet published and a list of all such research.
§ Mr. Peter Morrison[pursuant to his reply, 14 December 1984, c. 631]: In the course of the review of the Employment and Training Act 1973, research was commissioned into aspects of the roles of industrial training boards. Details are contained in the report "Outlook on Training" published by the Manpower Services Commission in July 1980. The Manpower Services Commission subsequently undertook a review of future training arrangements in each sector of the economy which in July 1981 was published in the report "A Framework for the Future".
41WNo further research has been commissioned by this Department or the Manpower Services Commission into the role of industrial training boards or non-statutory training organisations. I understand, however, that officials are preparing an information paper to be put to the commission in the near future, though there are no plans for publication.
§ Mr. Sheermanasked the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has about the profitability of skillcentres that have been proposed for closure.
§ Mr. Peter Morrison[pursuant to his reply, 14 December 1984, c. 631]: The expected outturn in 1984–85 for each of the skillcentres proposed for closure is as follows:
£ Scotland Bellshill Annexe 61,876 Shortfall Dumbarton 41,856 Shortfall Edinburgh Annexe 82,379 Surplus Hillington Annexe 180,407 Shortfall Queenslie 181,949 Shortfall Northern England Doncaster 311,112 Shortfall Killingworth 161,400 Shortfall Middlesbrough 235,257 Shortfall North West England Hindley Annexe 129,133 Shortfall Liverpool 203,114 Shortfall Manchester Denton 167,526 Shortfall Midlands Castle Bromwich 122,774 Shortfall Kirkby in Ashfield 209,188 Shortfall Long Eaton 455,681 Shortfall Redditch 214,848 Shortfall Wolverhampton Annexe 32,120 Surplus Birmingham Young People's Training Centre 297,367 Shortfall Wales Llanelli 180,101 Shortfall West Gwent 276,267 Shortfall South of England (West) Bristol Annexe 35,009 Surplus Gloucester Annexe 101,439 Surplus Plymouth Annexe 86,848 Shortfall Southampton Annexe 95,798 Surplus West Sussex Annexe 18,519 Shortfall South of England (East) Medway Annexe 61,801 Surplus Twickenham 351,403 Shortfall Waddon 450,417 Shortfall Waddon Annexe 174,539 Surplus Lambeth Youth Training Centre 341,888 Shortfall
42W
Percentage disabled (as at 1 June) Department 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 2.45 2.18 2.00 1.77 1.74 1.53 Cabinet Office 1.64 1.33 1.37 1.33 0.96 — Cabinet Office including MPO — — — — — 1.22 Charity Commission 1.52 1.20 0.92 0.93 1.18 1.50 Civil Service Department (and Parliamentary Counsel and CS College) 1.60 1.37 1.29 — — — Civil Service Pay Research Unit 1.72 1.23 1.47 — — — Crown Estate Office 0.85 0.90 0.90 0.90 1.77 — Crown Office Scotland 0.27 0.37 0.34 0.33 0.32 0.32 For the network as a whole, 15 skillcentres are expected to be in surplus, of a total of 87.
The profitability of skillcentres in 1985–86 and subsequent years will depend on the levels of business obtained and the costs incurred.