§ Mr. Greenwayasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will detail the industrial training undertaken by his Department; what is its cost; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe Department of Employment does not itself undertake training of industrial staff. The Manpower Services Commission does undertake such training for industrial staff working mainly in its skillcentres and employment rehabilitation centres. Their training requirements are generally met locally on the job by centre management, and include induction and health and safety training as well as for the requirements of specific duties. Catering staff are trained with the use of268W a formal staff training handbook and newly appointed storekeepers may be attached to different skillcentres for one week's induction training.
Current staff training programmes also provide for short formal courses in particular topics, for example, slinging and lifting for millwrights and the safe loading of vehicles for drivers. The latter is provided externally and since June 1980 course fees have amounted to £1070 for 63 staff. Apart from fees paid for external courses of the latter type, local training costs are included in all other staff costs and it is not possible to separate them without using a disproportionate amount of staff time.