§ Sir Peter Millsasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has yet reached a decision on the Manpower Services Commission's recommendation about future training arrangements in the hotel and catering industry; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonEarlier this year, the Manpower Services Commission undertook at my request a review of training arrangements in the hotel and catering industry. The commission considered the report of that review at its meeting on 29 July and unanimously recommended that the hotel and catering industry training board should be retained.
My right hon. Friend and I have subsequently considered very carefully the commission's report and recommendations. I have also discussed the matter with representatives of both sides of the industry, and taken into account the response to further consultations the commission has undertaken at my request with major employers in scope to the board.
In the light of this evidence, we have decided to accept the commission's recommendation that the board be 217W retained with its existing scope. In doing so we have taken into account the board's commitment, reflected in its current five year plan and endorsed by both sides of the industry, to continue to work towards eliminating unnecessary bureaucracy, increasing its receipts from commercial sources and reducing the costs falling to be met by employers generally. We are confident that, now uncertainty about the board's future has been removed, it will be able to concentrate its efforts on further developing its strategy in a way which encourages employers to accept responsibility for meeting their own training needs and reflects the circumstances of the industry.
Copies of the review have been placed in the Library.