§ Mrs. Renée Short asked the Secretary of State for Industry what funding is to be given to the new Engineering Council; and what responsibilities the council will have for training engineers.
§ Mr. Wakeham [pursuant to his reply, 21 October 1981]: The firm intention is that the council should become financially independent as soon as possible, but the Government have indicated that they would be prepared to help finance its initial running costs. The draft Royal Charter would enjoin the council generally to promote and develop the knowledge and best practice of engineering, and to take and encourage action for securing the supply and best use of engineers and engineering technicians. More particularly, the council would determine standards of training to be satisfied by those wishing to be entered on its register; arrange for the accreditation of, or itself accredit, industrial training programmes; and encourage the development and provision of training to enable engineers and engineering technicians to satisfy its standards and thereafter to maintain their competence in the light of technological and other changes.