§ Mr. Thorntonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is satisfied that the educational needs of the adult unemployed are being met.
§ Mr. Mark CarlisleHer Majesty's Government fully recognise the wide range of needs which adults without paid employment may have for education either to enhance their opportunities of training for and engaging in paid employment or to overcome the problems of periods without such employment. The Manpower Services Commission has responsibility for specific vocational training, but my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I are concerned that the more general education needs of the adult unemployed should also be met. We have therefore written to the chairman of the Advisory Council for Adult and Continuing Education asking the council to undertake as quickly as possible and report back to us by July 1982 on a specific remit to identify these needs; to consider the various efforts currently being made to provide for them; and to advise on the more effective means of deploying available resources to develop, expand and improve the provision.