HC Deb 17 March 1978 vol 946 cc361-3W
Mr. Durant

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) what is the annual cost to his Department of providing post-school education and training; and what was the distribution of this expenditure by (a) regions, (b) industrial sectors and (c) the various types of educational establishment, including training within industry;

(2) how many people underwent, or are undergoing, post-school education and training paid for by his Department in 1975–76, 1976–77 and 1977–78; and what was the breakdown of these numbers by (a) regions, (b) industrial sectors and (c) the various types of educational establishment.

Mr. Les Huckfield

Training in industry is primarily the responsibility of the Department of Employment. However, in certain of its current activities the Department of Industry is contributing towards post-school education and training in industry, though it is not possible to analyse the figures as requested.

Training costs may be taken into account within total project costs in determining what amount of selective financial assistance should be offered under Sections 7 and 8 of the Industry Act 1972, but are not separately identified.

Since March 1976 the Department has provided £42,008 to assist in the setting up of an advanced course in production and manufacturing management run jointly by Cambridge and Lancaster universities. 33 students are attending the course.

The Department of Industry and the Science Research Council are jointly funding the teaching company scheme, the aims of which include the training of selected graduates entering manufacturing industry. The scheme, still in its early stages of development, has cost the Department £38,752 to date, and 28 graduates are participating. It is not possible to apportion costs between training and the other aims of the scheme.

In adition, the Departments of Industry, Trade and Prices and Consumer Protection have a common training service for departmental staff.

Mr. Durant

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what percentage of the labour force now work for employers who have gained exemption from the industrial training levies by implementing their own training levy exemption schemes.

Mr. Golding

I have been asked to reply.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that 22 per cent. of the working population are employed in companies whose training arrangements have qualified for exemption from levy in accordance with the appropriate industry training board's criteria.

Mr. Durant

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the annual contribution to the cost of post-school education and training made by the industrial training levies, broken down by the 23 industrial training boards for the years 1974–75, 1975–76 and 1976–77.

Mr. Golding

I have been asked to reply.

ITB 1974–75

£'000

1975–76

£'000

1976–77

£'000

Air Transport 3,348 95 104
Carpet 370 469 606
Ceramics 3,387 2,583 2,702
Chemicals 6,294 104 62
Clothing 898 586 655
Construction 7,932 15,000 12,000
Cotton 1,504 955 879
Distributive 8,500 10,900 13,500
Engineering 78,000 17,925 16,744
Food, Drink and Tobacco 10,848 13,431 15,864
Footwear 1,025 1,193 536
Foundry ITC 2,374 2,971 3,264
Furniture and Timber 2,471 1,921 3,605
Hotel and Catering 2,430 3,635 4,616
Iron and Steel 397 394 845
Knitting, Lace and Net 478 57 51
Paper and Paper Products 3,433 3,618 4,154
Petroleum 434 100 127
Printing and Publishing 2,810 1,675 1,570
Road Transport 10,000 12,200 14,800
Rubber and Plastics 2,906 1,987 1,762
Shipbuilding 1,500 4,417 3,813
Wool 1,086 243 116