§ 26. Sir David Priceasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will seek powers to establish an Open College of Technology, along the lines of the Open University, to assist people to learn new skills and to improve their existing skills in order to increase their employment opportunities.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonAs my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State told the House on 26 November, he has asked the Manpower Services Commission to come forward with proposals for developing a scheme of open and distance learning—an "open tech" programme—in conjunction with existing practitioners and it is hoped that these proposals will be published for consultation sometime in the spring. However, my right hon. Friend has no plans to seek new powers to establish a new institution.