§ Mr. Litherlandasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give details of the numbers and grades of training staff who were the responsibility of his Department, and who were involved in the initial training of young people aged 16 years to 19 years leading to technical, trade or craft qualifications for the years 1979 1980 and 1981.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonTraining leading to technical, trade or craft qualification for people below the age of 19 is the responsibility of industry. I understand however that by arrangement with a group training association the Manpower Services Commission ran a course at one skillcentre for first year apprentices in 1979–80 and again in 1980–81. This course was supported by the equivalent of one instructional officer grade III.
An unquantifiable, but small, input from instructional officers grade III in skillcentres has also been given to continuing the training of redundant apprentices on a temporary basis while new employers are found for them.