Lord Chelwoodasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many apprentices there were in British industry in 1960, 1970, 1980 and the latest date for which figures are available; and if these figures show a decline how they account for this and how they propose to encourage employers and employees to improve the situation.
§ The Minister without Portfolio (Lord Young of Graffham)This information is not available in the precise form requested. For the manufacturing114WA industries the most recent estimate of people employed as apprentices is 82,000 at March 1984. The earliest comparable figure available is 124,000 at March 1982.
The numbers entering traditional apprenticeships will become increasingly irrelevant as a measure of the real level of skills training being undertaken by industry because of the reform of existing training arrangements; the substantial provision of initial skills training now taking place under the youth training scheme; and above all, the extension of the scheme to provide two-year places. The addition of a second year's training under the scheme from 1986 will give a very large number of young people an opportunity to gain valuable occupational training, with a recognised qualification at the end, and will be a major step towards providing industry with the skills it needs.
The Government are also positively encouraging training in a number of other ways. We have launched a national campaign to raise awareness of the importance of adult training. One of the key messages to employers is that investing in training is as essential as in plant and equipment. We are encouraging employers to reform their own training arrangements to make this investment more cost-effective. As part of the restructuring of its own adult training programmes, the Manpower Services Commission will give particular emphasis to initiatives which encourage greater attention by employers to adult training needs. For example, the commission has introduced a scheme of local grants to encourage employers' own training efforts. The Manpower Services Commission and the education departments are also offering financial help to assist employers to collaborate with training providers to define their needs and explore possible ways of meeting them.