HC Deb 14 February 1992 vol 203 cc654-5W
Mrs. Fyfe

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) whether it is his intention that employees who leave their employment prematurely because they feel they(a) are not being given enough responsibility or (b) are being denied promotion unfairly will have to pay their employer a proportion of their training costs;

(2) whether it is his intention that employees who leave their employment prematurely because (a) their new job is closer to home or (b) the hours in the new job are more convenient will have to pay the first employer a proportion of their training costs;

(3) whether it is his intention that employees who leave their employment prematurely because they dislike the boss will have to pay a proportion of their training costs;

(4) whether it is his intention that employees who leave their employment prematurely because (a) of sexual harassment, (b) they are being treated unfairly by a supervisor or (c) they are being denied equal pay for work of equal value in the first job will have to pay their employer a proportion of their training costs;

(5) whether it is his intention that employees who leave their employment prematurely because (a) they prefer a workplace that is organised by a trade union or (b) they realise they will never find the particular job congenial will have to pay their employer a proportion of their training costs.

Mr. Jackson

The Government's White Paper, "People Jobs and Opportunity" (cm. 1810) invited views on how the law relating to the enforceability of training contracts might be clarified, and the procedure for enforcing such contracts simplified. Such contracts between employer and employee are voluntarily entered into, and their terms a matter for the parties not for Government. We are not proposing to alter that position. The Government will take a decision on how to proceed on clarifying the law relating to their enforceability only when it has had the chance to consider the results of its consultation.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what arrangements he proposes to make to ensure that the public sector compensates the NHS for the employment of staff trained by the NHS.

Mr. Jackson

None. The White Paper "People, Jobs and Opportunity" invites comments on how to clarify the law on the enforceability of training contracts. The terms of any such contracts are a matter for negotiation between individual employers and their employees.