§ Mr. Reidasked the Secretary of State for Employment what action he has taken on recommendation 186 of the Finer Report that the Manpower Services Commission should encourage increased training opportunities for women and girls and the making of arrangements that are sufficiently flexible not to exclude those with family responsibilities.
§ Mr. GoldingI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the Training Services Agency is pursuing a number of activities designed to assist and encourage industrial training boards (ITBs) and major organisations in the non-board sector to improve training opportunities for women and girls. The Engineering ITB, for example, has introduced, with TSA support, a scholarship scheme for girl technicians in engineering and a young operator training course specifically for girls. In addition the TSA under its training opportunities scheme (TOPS) provides a range of courses at preparatory, semi-skilled, craft, technician and managerial level. TOPS courses are open to both men and women, and in fact 43 per cent. of those com-92W pleting TOPS courses in 1976 were women. To help those with family responsibilities part-time courses can be run. The TSA is also developing an experimental course for women wishing to return to work after a period of absence.