§ Mr. Hattonasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in the Official Report the facilities available in the Manchester area for training and retraining together with the numbers who can be accommodated.
§ Mr. John FraserI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that under the Training Opportunities Scheme (TOPS) in the Manchester metropolitan area there are three skillcentres and one annexe providing aproximately 750 places in skilled construction, engineering, automotive and electrical/electronic trades. There are also 28 educational establishments, including two universities, and five employers' establishments offering training in a much wider variety of occupations. For these establishments a precise number of places available cannot be given as, in addition to exclusive TOPS courses, TOPS trainees can be accomomdated on an "infill" basis on existing college courses.
About 2,700 TOPS will have been trained in educational establishments in the area in the current academic year, and approximately 500 in employers' establishments, but the Training Services Agency is constantly seeking to expand 520W this figure by arranging new courses with other employers.