HC Deb 23 June 1967 vol 748 cc355-7W
Mr. Dalyell

asked the Minister of Overseas Development (1) what he is doing to encourage small firms to promote training of technicians from developing countries; and what representations he has received from Professor Lord Jackson on this matter;

(2) what representations he is making to large firms in British industry with a view to training more technicians from developing countries.

Mr. Oram

Under the Ministry's new Industrial Training Scheme, which was devised after consultation with Industrial Training Boards, the C.B.I. and the T.U.C., details of which have already been published, it is hoped to provide training for more technicians from developing countries in British industry.

The Ministry of Labour, who act as the Ministry's agents in the industrial placing of students sponsored under this Scheme, will approach any firm which is doing the appropriate work and which, regardless of size, has satisfactory facilities for training.

So far as I can ascertain, I have received no direct representations from Professor Lord Jackson on this matter, though I am aware of the views expressed by him both publicly and at meetings of the Council for Technical Education and Training for Overseas Countries of which he is a member.

Mr. Dalyell

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if he will state in a convenient table form, the numbers of young men and women from developing countries who were given a technician training in the United Kingdom in 1966–67.

Mr. Oram

I regret that the figures requested are not available. A sample survey in May, 1965 suggested that about 1,150 students from developing countries were then undergoing technical training in industry in this country and a further 8,850 were attending courses in technical colleges.

Mr. Dalyell

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what he is doing to encourage public authorities to promote training of technicians from developing countries; and what representations he has received from Professor Lord Jackson on this matter.

Mr. Oram

For some years both nationalised industries and public utilities have co-operated with the Department in the promotion of training technicians from developing countries. Most of these authorities have training schemes and trainees from developing countries have been able to attend courses arranged by them or make use of attachments to them.

So far as I can ascertain I have received no direct representations from Professor Lord Jackson on this matter though I am aware of the views expressed by him both publicly and at meetings of the Council for Technical Education and Training for Overseas Countries of which he is a member.

Mr. Dalyell

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what he is doing to promote the training in the United Kingdom of technical supporting manpower from developing countries; and what representations he has had from Professor Lord Jackson on this matter.

Mr. Oram

The policy of the Ministry is to encourage the expansion of such training in the developing countries. The training offered in this country is limited as far as possible to the more highly specialised fields.

So far as I can ascertain I have received no direct representations from Professor Lord Jackson on this matter though I am aware of the views expressed by him both publicly and at meetings of the Council for Technical Education and Training for Overseas Countries of which he is a member.