§ Mr. Heddleasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether the Construction Industry Training Board has any plans to raise its levy exclusion limit to bring it into line with the Engineering Industry Training Board which excludes all firms from payment of levy where less than 60 staff are employed; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Jim LesterI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the Construction Industry Training Board is currently reviewing its levy exclusion level which will apply from 1 August 1980 and no decision has yet been reached. The payroll level below which firms are not required to pay levy is carefully examined each year by the CITB when formulating its grant and levy proposals. It is my practice to scrutinise with particular care any training board's proposals with respect to exclusion levels when they are submitted to me for approval.
The circumstances of the construction industry differ considerably from those of the engineering industry and the policies of the EITB are not necessarily appropriate for other industries.
740WThe exclusion policies of all the industrial training boards are being examined as part of the review of the Employment and Training Act 1973 as it affects industrial training, currently being carried out by the MSC.