§ Mr. Spenceasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will bring forward proposals for exempting small electrical contracting businesses or, alternatively, ensuring that they get value for money from the Construction Industry Training Board; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Jim LesterI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the Construction Industry Training Board does exempt the smallest firms from levy. My hon. Friend will know that the operations of industry training boards generally are being examined as part of the review of the Employment and Training Act 1973 currently being carried out by the Manpower Services Commission. The Government will be considering what changes may be needed to the present arrangements in the light of that report, which we expect to receive in July of this year.
§ Mr. Grieveasked the Secretary of State for Employment, in view of the unfairness to small businesses of having to make contributions to the Construction Industry Training Board out of proportion to the use which they make of it, if he will seek to mitigate the burden upon them of the levy.
§ Mr. Jim Lester[pursuant to his reply, 13 June 1980, c. 250]: The operations of industry training boards are being examined as part of the review of the Employment and Training Act 1973 currently being carried out by the Manpower Services Commission. The Government 452W will be considering what changes may be needed to the present arrangements in the light of that report, which we expect to receive in July of this year.