§ 17. Mr. Tom ClarkeTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how he intends to improve the numbers receiving training in work.
§ Mr. HowardThe main responsibility for training people in work must lie with their employers. They will receive support and encouragement through the network of training and enterprise councils in England and Wales, and local enterprise companies in Scotland and through the investors in people initiative which will encourage employers to invest in all their employers.
§ 20. Mr. Nigel GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will estimate the numbers of employees receiving training in Britain.
Mr. JacksonFigures from the labour force survey show that in the spring of 1989, 3.1 million employees received job-related training in the four weeks prior to the survey. This was an increase of more than 70 per cent. compared with the same period in 1984.
§ 18. Mr. ColvinTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many training and enterprise councils are now established; and how many more are being planned.
§ Mr. HowardExcellent progress is being made in setting up training and enterprise councils. All 82 TECs in England and Wales are now in place and 51 are fully operational. By the summer, the full network will be up and running—a full two years ahead of schedule.