§ 23. Mr. McNallyasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he plans any initiatives to increase the number of apprenticeships available in British industry.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThis Government, like previous ones, take the view that it is mainly up to industry itself to recruit sufficient apprentices to meet its long term needs for skilled labour. However, the Government are at present continuing to support up to 25,000 places a year under the Manpower Services Commission's training for skills programme and have agreed to make available over the next two years a further £20 million to help support industry's long-term training.
§ 27. Mr. Rentonasked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to ensure that apprenticeships or training places are offered to every school leaver this year by Christmas.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonMy right hon. Friend announced in the House in November last year that he had asked the Manpower Services Commission to offer every 1981 school leaver who cannot find work the opportunity of work experience or training on the youth opportunities programme by Christmas 1981.
405WThe commission has requested an additional £93 million in 1981–82 to ensure that this undertaking will be met, and my right hon. Friend will be making an announcement shortly.
In addition, under the training for skills programme, the Government are making £40 million available in 1981–82 to support the recruitment by industry of 33,000 apprentices and entrants to other forms of long-term training.