Engineering Workers (Hansard, 12 July 1977)

§ Mr. Golding

There is much work going on both in industry and Government to establish the right level of training and how it can best be provided to reduce the chances that shortages on the scale of those experienced during the 1973–74 boom will recur. For example, the sector working parties in the industrial strategy will be looking at their future manpower requirements, much work is being done by the industrial training boards, and in particular the Engineering Industry Training Board, and through the boards and the Manpower Services Commission the Government are making a substantial input to the training of skilled workers. It is estimated that an additional 32,500 apprenticeships or equivalent schemes will be supported in 1977 at a cost of some £37 million from public funds. Completions of engineering courses under the training opportunities scheme are expected to reach 21,000 and 23,000 in 1977 and 1978 respectively. Additionally the Commission has set up a Vital Skills Task Group under the chairmanship of Sir Richard O'Brien to look at the funding of training for young people, and this is expected to report in the autumn. The Government wish to ensure that the right numbers of people are trained in the right skills. But both sides of industry have a part to play by ensuring that the existing supply of skilled workers is employed as efficiently and effectively as possible, and the future needs are foreseen and planned for.