§ 53. Mr Stratton Millsasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether his Department in conjunction with industrial training boards will be running award schemes for apprentices in the coming year.
§ Mr. Chichester-ClarkAs I said in a Written Answer on 12th July, we have reached agreement with the Engineering Industry Training Board for a repetition of last years aware scheme for, initially, 1,500 apprentices. We have also agreed a scheme with the Road Transport Industry Training Board for 1,500 awards. The remaining boards are considering whether circumstances in their industries warrant running an award scheme this year.
§ 64. Mr. Dempseyasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many first year off-the-job training places were occupied by first-year apprentices in group training establishments at the most recent convenient date; and what is his estimate of the reduction in numbers on abolition of the levy grant.
§ Mr. Chichester-ClarkIn March, 1972, 3,384 people were receiving training in group training establishments. We have66W and how these figures compare with the past three years.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithFollowing is the information:
no firm basis for assumptions about a possible reduction in this training should levy grant be phased out. The effect of the proposed selective grant aid for key training activities must also be taken into account.