§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied that sufficient apprentices are being trained by industry and the training boards and what plans he has to increase the numbers.
§ Mr. Jim Lester[pursuant to his reply, 31 July 1980, c. 782〓83]: It is primarily for industry itself to recruit and train 128W sufficient apprentices to meet its long-term economic needs. However, the Government are continuing, through the Manpower Services Commission, to give substantial support to industry's efforts. As the Secretary of State recently told the House, in addition to the main training for skills programme, under which up to 23,500 apprenticeships and other forms of long-term training are being supported in 1980–81, the MSC, as part of its response to the current high level of youth unemployment, is making available additional funds to support some 1,500 extra apprentice places this year.