§ Mr. Urwinasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many scaffolders and mechanical plant operators have been trained during each of the last three years at the Bircham Newton training centre.
(2) what is the total number of places available at Bircham Newton training centre for the training of scaffolders and mechanical plant operators; what has been the intake of trainees in each of the last three years; how many trainees have remained in the construction industry; and how many vacancies currently exist;
(3) if he is satisfied that facilities for the training of scaffolders and plant operators for the construction industry are adequate; and if he will make a statement.
260WGreat Britain into age groups, giving the figures for each of the economic planning regions.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithThe following table shows an anlysis by age ranges at 10th July, 1972, the latest date for which information is available.
§ Mr. Chichester-ClarkThe Construction Industry Training Board has supplied the following information about training facilities at the Bircham Newton Training Centre:
Plant Operators Scaffolders Current Number of Places 400 250 Numbers trained:— 1970 976 307 1971 465 299 1972 556 471 Training facilities are provided to meet demand both current and foreseen, and the board is expanding the number of places available at Bircham Newton to 780 for plant operators and 500 for scaffolders by March 1973.
It is not possible to give the proportion of trainees who have remained in the construction industry as records are not kept.
At the last count, in October 1972, the numbers of unfilled vacancies notified to local offices, for scaffolders and plant operators in the construction industry were 73 and 370 respectively.
The Construction Industry Training Board advises me that training facilities at Bircham Newton for scaffolders and plant operators are adequate to keep pace with training demand in the construction industry. The board will continue to keep the position under review.
Mr. Urvinasked the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate he has 261W made of the level of earnings of labour-only sub-contractors in the construction industry.
§ Mr. Chichester-ClarkNone, since the Department's statistics of earnings are based on information obtained from employers in respect of employees and do not cover the self-employed.