§ Mr. Freesonasked the Under-Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the provision of in-service training for specialist careers officers; and if he is satisfied with the arrangements which allow these officers to work in post for several months before receiving training courses.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe provision of in-service training for specialist careers officers is the responsibility of the local education authorities which employ them. I am satisfied that the recognised initial training for careers officers provides adequate basic knowledge for dealing with young people with special needs. My Department encourages those who later specialise in this work to receive further appropriate training. But a decision as to
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April 1978 April 1979 April 1980 April 1981 April 1982 April 1983 (1) Allowances under Youth Opportunities Programme £ per week 19.50 20.55 23.50 23.50 25.00 25.00 (2) Average earnings of full-time males aged under 18* £ per week 35.60 40.30 48.30 54.50 59.80 61.00 (3) Minimum wage rate for 16 year old apprentice in engineering £ per week †24.22 †25.50 †32.85 37.50 39.45 41.33 (4) Average earnings of full-time manual males excluding overtime and bonuses* £ per week 57.70 65.20 79.80 90.50 98.90 105.90 (5) Retail price index—January 1974= 100 Items (1) to (4) adjusted for changes in retail prices to April 1983‡— 194.60 214.20 260.80 292.20 319.70 332.50 (1) 33.33 31.89 29.96 26.74 26.00 25.00 (2) 60.80 62.50 61.60 62.00 63.40 61.00 (3) 41.39 39.58 41.88 42.68 41.01 41.33 (4) 98.60 101.20 101.70 103.00 102.90 105.90 Item (1) as percentage of item (4) 33.80 31.50 29.40 26.00 25.30 23.60 Item (2) as percentage of item (4) 61.70 61.80 60.50 60.20 60.50 57.60 Item (3) as percentage of item (4) 42.00 39.10 41.20 41.40 39.90 39.00 when this is best first provided should reflect the need for the newly-appointed specialist also to acquire some practical experience and knowledge.