HC Deb 01 June 1981 vol 5 c271W
Mr. Proctor

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many conferences held in Monte Carlo in each of the past five years have been eligible for grants to delegates from the Road Transport Industry Training Board; and at what cost;

(2) what agreement was reached between the Road Transport Industry Training Board and Mobil Oil Company Limited convention co-ordinator on the grant that could be claimed from public funds in respect of attendance by delegates at a Mobil Oil Conference held at Loews Hotel, Monte Carlo, from 12 to 15 March 1981; and what was the cost per head;

(3) what profit was made, and what funds in total were received, from the sale of training material at the Mobil Oil Company conference at Loews Hotel, Monte Carlo by the Road Transport Industry Training Board from 12 to 15 March 1981; and what was the total cost of an employee of the Board attending the conference.

Mr. Peter Morrison

[pursuant to his reply, 18 May 1981, c. 10]: The conference held in Monte Carlo from 12 to 15 March 1981 by the Mobil Oil Company is the only conference held there in the last five years for which employers of delegates from the industry have been eligible for grants from the Road Transport Industry Training Board. No payments have yet been made as grants will be netted against levy due in December 1981, when all claims have been received. I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that no grants for attendance at the conference are payable from public funds.

Training material was displayed at the conference, but was not available for sale. As I said in my reply of 9 April 1981, the salary cost of the board official who attended was £130. I understand that, in addition, the cost to the board was £250 for flight and accommodation, plus £55 incidental expenses for the four days involved.