§ Mr. Ray Powellasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will consider the introduction of special construction industry training board schemes whereby Government factory building programmes could act as training bases for construction and allied trade apprentices.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that it is the policy of the construction industry training board to encourage employers to use initial off-the-job training for apprentices. Thereafter, it is for employers to continue training on site. This policy would apply to contractors engaged in Government factory building programmes. The board uses site projects to provide continued training for redundant apprentices who have not been able to find another employer and for its own award trainees who have not been placed after their initial period of board-sponsored off-the-job training. These site projects are, of necessity, small scale operations to provide continued training for the limited number of unplaced trainees in an area. Any such project is subject to the approval of both sides of industry which normally restricts them to works which would not otherwise be undertaken.