§ Mr. Edwin Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to ensure that sufficient training is taking place to ensure that the requisite number of personnel are trained to cope with the future needs of the microelectronics industry.
§ Mr. Jim LesterI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission (MSC) that the main role in identifying and meeting training needs in the field of microelectronics lies with industry, but MSC is giving high priority to supporting industry's effort.
The commission has for instance, under its training for skills programme asked industrial training boards (ITBs) and other national training organisations to help spread awareness of microelectronics, to analyse training needs and to secure adequate provision and content of training and to encourage adequate throughput of trainees. For 1980–81 MSC is giving expenditure on microelectronics and computing priority and substantial funds are being made available to help industry meet key objectives.