Mr. Jim Callaghanasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many retraining places were available in 1978–79 and 1979–80; and what percentage was taken up;
(2) how many training places were available in 1978–79 and 1979–80; and what percentage was taken up.
§ Mr. Jim LesterThe main responsibility for the provision of training and re-training rests with employers. Information on the number of training and retraining places provided by employers is not available.
245WThe Manpower Services Commission operates three programmes which directly provide training or re-training opportunities.
Firstly, the training opportunities scheme (TOPS) provides training or retraining for adults aged 19 and over. Some of the training opportunities are provided in the MSC's Skillcentres. The following table gives average figures for
1 2 Commissioned places Operational places TOPS trainees Sponsored trainees Young people Percentage of 2 used by those completing training 1978–79 18,200* 16,500 11,350 850 150 75 1979–80 18,300 16,500 10,800 800 100 71 * Estimate Since the beginning of 1980 there has been a very marked improvement in the skillcentre occupancy rate which now stands at approximately 77 per cent. nationally.
TOPS courses are also provided in colleges of further education, private colleges and employer establishments. The facilities available at these establish
1978–79 Planned completions Achieved completions Percentage College of Further Education* 45,044 37,130 82 Employer Establishments 11,009 10,322 94 Total 56,053 47,452 85 1979–80 (Revised)† Planned completions Achieved completions Percentage College of Further Education* 40,673 41,410 102 Employer Establishments 11,577 10,394 90 Total 52,250 51,804 99 * Includes private colleges. † Planned completions in 1979–80 were revised downwards as a consequence of Government expenditure cuts, so creating the potential for over achievement. Secondly the Manpower Services Commission provides direct training services to employers for training or re-training their employees in-plant or in the MSC's own establishments with resources made available according to demand. During 1978–79 some 45,786 people were trained
246W
1978–79 1979–80 Places available Number taken up Percentage taken up Places available Number taken up Percentage taken up Training Courses 24,170 19,786 82 31,541 27,536 87 Work Experience Programmes 120,000 162,200* — 200,000 216,400* — * For work experience courses there is no set length and the figures given in the above table for "number taken up" relate to throughput. 1978–79 and 1979–80 of the number of skillcentre place commissioned for training (that is fully equipped), the number of operational places (that is, those commissioned and with an instructor in post) and the use of operational places (in terms of trainee-weeks used) by those who completed their training. (About 8 per cent. of capacity is used by trainees who fail to complete their course.)
ments are not exclusively used by TOPS. One means of assessing the use made by training available under TOPS, is to determine the extent to which the plans for TOPS training at these institutions were achieved. The planning targets were given in terms of completions and the information for 1979–80 is set out in the following table:
through these services and for 1979–80 the total was 41,441.
Thirdly, there is the youth opportunities programme under which training courses and work experience programmes have been offered to young people. The provision and take up in 1978–79 and 1979–80 is as follows: