§ Mr. LeightonTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of clients on employment training referred to training managers are not accepted and are referred back to training agents.
§ Mr. LeightonTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of current employment training trainees in training are on employer placements.
Mr. JacksonIt is estimated that at 30 September 1990, the latest date for which information is available, about 25 per cent. of trainees were on practical training placements with employers.
§ Mr. LeightonTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps are being taken to improve the quality of provision of training agents on employment training; and whether any extra resources are being provided for this.
Mr. JacksonTraining agents which contract direct with my Department are required to meet the exacting arid stringent standards of the approved training organisation (ATO) criteria. I am satisfied that the resources provided are sufficient to meet these quality standards.
Training agents who contract with a training arid enterprise council are required to meet the standards which the TEC sets out in its quality management strategy which are no less stringent than those of the approved training organisation criteria. The quality management strategy is an integral part of the training and enterprise council's corporate and business plans which are agreed with my Department and form the foundation of the contractual arrangements between the training and enterprise council and my Department. Training and enterprise council's also determine what resources are needed to maintain standards and provide value for money.