HC Deb 21 July 1989 vol 157 cc389-90W
Ms. Harman

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were trained on the Construction Industry Training Board (ATS) adult training scheme at Deptford skill centre; how much it cost for trainees qualified and placed in employment; and what was the national average cost of training a skilled construction worker.

Mr. Nicholls

In the financial year 1988–89, 61 people were trained on CITB-sponsored adult training programmes at Deptford skill centre. The national average cost of training a skilled construction worker in a skill centre is £130 per trainee week. Skill centres are not involved in placing CITB-sponsored trainees and therefore figures on placing costs are not held.

Ms. Harman

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many trainees were trained under the new JTS at Deptford skill centre during 1987–88; how many achieved skilled status; and how many were placed in employment at the end of training.

Mr. Nicholls

In the financial year 1987–88, 20 trainees successfully completed their new job training scheme training plans at Deptford skill centre. No figures are available on the destinations of those completing, therefore the numbers of those moving on to achieve either skilled status or employment is not known.

Ms. Harman

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the development value of the site of Deptford skill centre.

Mr. Nicholls

The Government have appointed King and Company, surveyors, to value the Skills Training Agency (STA) estate, prior to the sale of STA to the private sector. King and Company's assessment of the value of individual skill centres is commercially sensitive until sale negotiations are complete. The whole of STA will be offered for sale and the Government are interested in bids from those who want to run a training business. Should there be any development gains, my right hon. Friend has made clear that he will make provision for the Government to share in any such gains in the years immediately after sale.

Ms. Harman

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment within the catchment area of Deptford skill centre how many skilled construction workers are needed to meet the demand of employers; how many skilled workers were trained in these trades in this area in 1988; and to what extent this meets the placement figure for each trade.

Mr. Nicholls

Deptford skill centre attracts trainees from all over London.

The Construction Industry training board estimates that in 1988, between 4,500 and 8,500 replacement manual construction employees (excluding those in the unskilled operative category) were required.

The London Research Centre's 1988 director of construction training estimates that 4,500 training places were provided by public and private sector organisations, and 5,000 college places.

Placement figures for construction trades are riot available.