HC Deb 18 November 1986 vol 105 cc159-60W
16. Mrs. Clwyd

asked the Paymaster General what proposals he has for significantly increasing the quantity of training for managers, for high technology needs and for technicians.

Mr. Trippier

The Government believe that training is primarily the responsibility of industry itself: but we are helping industry through a wide range of schemes to develop and improve the managerial and technical skills of its workforce. We have supported two major studies on the future of management education. We have doubled provision under the training for enterprise programme for training the managers of small businesses. Through the Open Tech programme we have developed over 20,000 hours of learning material for managers and technicians. We are also helping with the initial supply of technically trained young people through the YTS, and in higher education through the engineering and technology programme.

29. Mr. Sumberg

asked the Paymaster General whether he will make a statement on the present method of funding industrial training.

Mr. Trippier

The Government's policies on the funding of training are set out in the White Paper "Training for Jobs" (Cmnd. 9135) and "Working Together—Education and Training" (Cmnd. 9823). The primary responsibility for assessing industry's skill needs and ensuring they are met lies with employers, both individually, and collectively through industry training organisations.

The Government make a major contribution particularly in arranging training for young people under the YTS, and in selective support designed to assist and encourage employers to identify and meet their training needs. The Government have also accepted the plan of work for a major study by the Manpower Services Commission of the funding of vocational education and training, including industrial training.

36. Mr. Jim Callaghan

asked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement about training for the unemployed.

Mr. Trippier

This year we plan to help some 190,000 unemployed people through our adult training programmes.