HC Deb 19 July 1978 vol 954 cc285-6W
Mr. George Rodgers

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has for improving the industrial language training service for ethnic minority workers.

Mr. John Grant

With my agreement and full support the Manpower Services Commission—MSC—has two important initiatives in hand. The first concerns the National Centre for Industrial Language Training—NCILT—and the second the local language training units, of which there are 26.

The authorisation for NCILT was initially for three years, starting in 1974; this was renewed in 1977 for a further three years. In recognition of the success NCILT has had so far and of the work that still remains to be done it has been agreed that the life of the centre should be extended to 1987, subject to review in 1982. NCILT will continue to provide support services from the local units and will also advise on the development of a national strategy for industrial language training. It will continue to be funded by the MSC.

The local language training units are currently financed partly from central Government and partly from local authority funds. This has not proved an entirely satisfactory method of funding, particularly at a time of expenditure restraint. After consultation with the Government Departments and local authority associations concerned, it has therefore been agreed that in future the units should be financed wholly by the MSC. This will be a more appropriate arrangement for meeting what are essentially training costs and will provide a more stable system of funding with advantages from the point of view of planning and developing the provision to be made and of keeping and developing staff of the necessary quality. The MSC will be getting in touch with the local authorities concerned shortly to discuss detailed implementation so that the change can be introduced as soon as possible.

These decisions reflect the importance the Government attach to the improvement of the industrial language training service and its recognition of the contribution the service makes to racial equality policies, and at its next meeting my Department's race relations employment advisory group will be advising on the MSC's future plans.