§ Mr. Gardnerasked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will now make a statement on the report of the Committee published as Command Paper No. 4335, which has been reviewing the functions and organisation of the Central Training Council.
§ Mrs. Castle:I welcome the report and am confident that it will provide an effective basis for the development of the work of the Council over the next few years. In particular I accept the main recommendation that the Council should retain its advisory character and that arrangements should be made to enable it to undertake surveys and investigations into the progress being made in industrial training.
In view of the special nature of the committee which the report recommends 478W should be set up to advise on the relationship between training and further education, I propose to offer guidance to the Council on the appropriate terms of reference and composition of the committee in consultation with my Education colleagues. I would also propose to consult them on such recommendations as the Council, on the advice of the committee, might make to me in due course.