§ 18. Mr. Bevanasked the Paymaster General how many new jobs he estimates will be created at all levels in the hotel and catering industry by the end of the decade.
§ Mr. TrippierThe Government do not produce forecasts of future employment levels, which depend on many factors. However, during the period between December 1985 and December 1986 employment in hotels and catering increased by 17,000.
If present trends continue, there should be scope for many more jobs in the industry in the period up to 1990.
158W
§ 27. Mr. Galeasked the Paymaster General what Government initiatives are planned to help to fill the 40,000 vacancies estimated by the Hotel and Catering Training Board to have been left unfilled in the hotel and catering industry every year.
§ Mr. TrippierThe Government, through the Manpower Services Commission, will be helping employers in the hotel and catering industry to recruit and train the labour they need as it does with all sectors of the economy. In addition to the recruitment service provided by the MSC's jobcentre network, the MSC's vocational and educational training group provides financial and other support. In particular, the development of training and initiatives is considered a high priority, principally by funding places on both YTS and job training schemes for hotel and catering occuptions. The MSC also supports initiatives by the hotel and catering training board to structure the training and career arrangements so providing it with a better qualified work force.
§ 28. Mrs. Ann Wintertonasked the Paymaster General if he will estimate what the intake on the hotel and catering job training scheme is likely to be.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeI expect the new job training scheme to make a major contribution to meeting local skill needs in the hotel and catering industry. The hotel and catering training board is already operating as a managing agent in one of the pilot areas, and I expect many employers in the industry to become involved in the scheme as providers of practical work experience.