§ Mr. Gryllsasked the Secretary of State for Industry how many of the sector working parties mentioned lack of incentives for skilled labour and a shortage of skilled manpower as being problems; and what action he proposes to take to remedy these difficulties.
Mr. Alan Williams16 sector working parties have mentioned incentives in relation to skilled manpower or productivity. The Government have made clear that the question of incentives and rewards for responsibility will be taken into account, along with other factors, in considering pay arrangements for the period after next July. 25 sector working parties have mentioned shortages of skilled manpower, mainly prospective in anticipation of economic expansion. The responsibility for obtaining suitable manpower rests primarily with industry, but the Government are asking the working parties concerned to identify skill shortages as specifically as possible in order to see whether further action by the various bodies operating in this field is necessary. Farther information is available354W in the paper "Industrial Strategy: Progress by the Sector Working Parties", which was placed in the Library on 3rd February.