§ Mr. Tom Coxasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement about the future of the Waddon and Waddon annexe skillcentre; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonUnder the skillcentre training agency's plans for the reorganisation of the skillcentre network, Waddon skillcentre and its annexe at Sydenham are to close. My right hon. Friend has asked the chairman of the Manpower Services Commission to make sure that satisfactory alternative provisions have been identified before any individual skillcentre closure takes place. The chairman is expected to announce his decision in each case shortly. The skillcentre reorganisation has to be seen in the context of adult training strategy which will provide many more training opportunities overall. In 1986–87, we shall help to train more than twice as many people as in 1983–84 including up to 5,900 adults in south-east London. Both employed and unemployed people will benefit from this expansion.