§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many courses for trade union representatives, basic and advanced, respectively, are provided by colleges and institutions of further and advanced further education in England and Wales; what percentage of such courses are provided in departments of management, or management and business studies, in these institutions; and if the courses come within further education regulations for finance.
§ Mr. OakesA wide variety of courses is available in the further education sector for trade union representatives, but it is not practicable to identify individual courses which trade unionists may attend, or to determine whether attendance is in a personal or a representative capacity. However, I understand that some 125 colleges offer courses for shop stewards, and that about 15,000 shop stewards attended such courses last year. These courses, like others at the non-advanced level, are not subject to approval under the Further Education Regulations 1975, and the costs, net of course fees, are met by the providing authorities.