§ 39. Mr. Kenneth Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will discuss with the TUC and the 95W CBI the possibility of reducing the period of years required for skilled apprentices to qualify.
§ Mr. GoldingThere is no need for such discussions. Both the TUC and CBI were represented on a task group of the Manpower Services Commission whose report "Training for Skills—A Programme for Action" was published in December 1977.
The report contains a number of recommendations to industry training boards and other national bodies, one of which is that the length of craft and technician training should be based on what has to be taught and on the rate of learning of the individual, subject to sufficient time being allowed to require maturity. It also recommends that there should be incentives for trainees to become qualified as quickly as possible. The report has been accepted by the Commission, and its general approach has been approved by the Government. I am informed by the Chairman of the Commission that the programme of action recommended in the report will now be discussed with industry through the training boards and other national or joint industry bodies.