§ 48. Mr. Hattonasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with the provision of places at Government training centres which serve the 404W Manchester area for courses of vocational training.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that progress is being made in increasing the number of places available under the Training Opportunities Scheme (TOPS) in the Manchester area and further expansion is planned. Some 600 operational places are currently available in the skillcentres at Denton, Hindley, Worsley annexe and Trafford Park. Of these 549 were occupied on 31st October 1974. There will be a gradual build-up of a further 150 places in the new centre at Trafford Park. Training under TOPS is not restricted to skillcentres and considerable use is made of capacity in colleges of further education and approved employers' establishments. On 31st October 1974, 1,200 people were training in colleges and 84 in employers' establishments in the Manchester area.