§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what action the Training Agency takes to prevent job substitution on employment training schemes;
(2) what safeguards there are against employment training schemes taking on trainees in firms which would otherwise have recruited a worker in the normal way;
(3) what action he intends to take to ensure that there is no unfair competition between firms using Government-funded employment trainees and schemes.
§ Mr. Lang[holding answer 14 December]: The employment training programme imposes a substantial training requirement upon placement providers. This makes it financially unattractive to use trainees as substitutes for qualified workers and the use of trainees should not convey competitive advantages. However, where an abuse is attempted normal monitoring procedures should detect it. Furthermore, anyone uncovering evidence of abuse should report his or her suspicions to the Training Agency. All complaints will be investigated fully.