§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on estimates of skills shortage recorded in private or public surveys which he has evaluated; what measures are being taken to tackle existing skills shortages; and if he will make a statement. [25765]
§ Mr. RichardsThe 1994 Welsh employers survey covered nearly 3,000 employers in Wales. It found that 5 per cent. of establishments had vacancies that were hard to fill and 2 per cent had hard-to-fill vacancies due to lack of skilled applicants.
Reports of other recent surveys conducted for employers organisations suggest that the percentage of firms expecting a shortage of skilled labour to limit output is increasing. However caution must be attached to the findings of regional analyses based on small samples which are liable to significant margins of error. "People and Prosperity: and Agenda for Action in Wales" published on 20 March sets out a concerted plan of action to improve skills levels in Wales.