§ Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Wales how many Open Tech places will be available to Wales in the years 1983 to 1985; what proportion this will be of places available to the United Kingdom; where in Wales Open Tech centres will be located; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John Stradling ThomasThe Open Tech programme provides pump-priming support for a series of collaborative projects working with and through existing institutions—such as colleges, employer and training bodies—to widen access for adults to existing training provision at technician and supervisory levels and to create new provision through open and distance learning. The programme has a budget of almost £4 million in 1983–84 rising to £8 million in 1985–86. The first six projects were commissioned during February 1983.
Although none of these originates in Wales, the materials and facilities they produce will be available to students in Wales in the same way as to students elsewhere in the United Kingdom.
I understand from the chairman of the Manpower Services Commission, which is responsible for running the programme, that a feasibility study on the application of open learning to technician training in Wales is currently under way, that several proposals for Open Tech projects are under active discussion and that the application of the programme in Wales has recently been considered by the MSC committee for Wales. I would expect geographical and industrial conditions in Wales to make open learning particularly attractive to employers, colleges and individuals and trust that all concerned will look carefully at the opportunities offered under the Open Tech programme.