§ 26. Mr. Formanasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will consider setting annual targets for the expansion of the Government's training and retraining programme.
§ Mr. GoldingThe Manpower Services Commission informs me that the Training Services Agency sets annual objectives for the number of people to be trained under the Training Opportunities Scheme (TOPS).
The 1975 objective of training 60,000 people under TOPS was achieved. Good progress is being made towards the 1976 objective of 80,000: in the first quarter of this year 18,700 people completed training.
§ Mr. Sillarsasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the Government training centres in Scotland, showing which are under-utilised and which have large waiting lists.
§ Mr. GoldingI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the average level of occupancy of all skill-centres in Scotland is over 90 per cent. which represents a satisfactory use of training capacity. Waiting lists at Hillington and Edinburgh skillcentres are lengthy in relation to the capacity of those centres.
§ Mr. Sillarsasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many places are now available at GTCs in Scotland; and 485W how this compares with the position five years ago.
§ Mr. GoldingI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that there were 1,574 training places at skillcentres —formerly Government training centres—in Scotland on 31st March 1976, compared with 1,290 on 8th March 1971.
§ Mr. Sillarsasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the range of courses offered at GTCs in Scotland; how many places are available for each; how the position compares with five years ago; and what increases in places he proposes for the next three years.
§ Mr. GoldingI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the information is as follows:
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Training Course Places available at 31st March 1976 Places available at 8th March 1971 Construction Bricklaying 124 80 Carpentry and joinery 168 192 Plumbing 14 16 Engineering Production Automatic lathe setting 8 8 Boring setting-machining 4 8 Capstan setting-operating 148 160 Centre lathe turning 81 80 Milling setting-operating 98 120 Precision grinding 49 60 Welding electirc arc (pipe) 29 Nil Welding electric arc (plate) 89 48 Engineering Servicing Draughtsman/woman (mechanical engineering) 14 16 Fitting—jig and tool 12 12 Instrument fitting and machining 23 24 Electrical—Electronic Electrical installation and maintenance 12 Nil Electronic wiring and circuit testing 22 36 Instrument maintenance 30 60 Radio, TV and electronics servicing 93 96 Industrial electronics 67 Nil Plant and Automotive Agricultural machinery repair and maintenance 24 48 Contractors plant repair and maintenance 36 12 Heavy vehicle repair and maintenance 60 12 Motor vehicle body repair 24 Nil Motor vehicle repair and maintenance 192 120 Motor vehicle spray painting 24 Nil General Servicing Typewriter repair and maintenance 12 12 Watch and clock repair 24 24
Training Course Places available at 31st March 1976 Places available at 8th March 1971 Miscellaneous Commercial cookery Nil 3 Hairdressing (mens) 24 36 Store keeping 3 7 Short Industrial Courses Wider oppprtunities 20 Nil Vocational assessment 46 Nil GRAND TOTAL 1,574 1,290 The Training Services Agency has reviewed the provision of Skillcentre facilities in Scotland and has decided that no increase in facilities is required during the next three years.
§ Mr. Sillarsasked the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has to ensure that young people, denied an opportunity of learning a skilled trade by present circumstances, will have fresh opportunities to attain job skills at a future date.
§ Mr. GoldingDespite current high levels of unemployment, the Government, through their special measures programme of support for industry, have helped to maintain a high level of intake of young people into long-term training. Some £31 million was made available to the Manpower Services Commission for this purpose in 1975–76, which has so far resulted in the creation of or support for, some 23,500 training opportunities in industry for young people. A further £55 million has been made available for 1976–77, to support up to 30,000 to 35,000 training places.
For people who, for some reason or another, are not able to obtain longterm training early in working life, the Training Opportunities Scheme (TOPS) provides a means of acquiring a skill. Eligibility is normally restricted to people, aged 19 or over, who have spent three years away from full-time education. Subject to these qualifications, the Training Opportunities Scheme is available to self-employed, employed or unemployed people.
§ Mr. George Rodgersasked the Secretary of State for Emloyment what proportion of those who have successfully completed Government sponsored training or retraining courses have subsequently secured employment, according to the latest available figures.
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§ Mr. GoldingI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that, during 1975, 60,724 people completed training courses under the Training Opportunities Scheme. During the same period 34,358 ex-trainees were placed or found work in their training trade. The number of people placed during 1975 does not necessarily relate to the people trained during that year.
There is no obligation on ex-trainees to use the Employment Service on completion of their training. There may, therefore, be other ex-trainees, working in their training trade, of whom we are unaware.