§ 48. Mr. Hayesasked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to ensure that the provision of adult training responds to employers' needs.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonAs part of the Government's adult training strategy the resources available to the Manpower Services Commission are being directed to support training which is adaptable and responsive to employers' needs and which stimulates employers' own efforts. For example, steps have been taken to ensure that the commission's programme of skill supply training for unemployed people relates closely to known employment needs. The commission is also piloting some new pump-priming grant schemes for employers designed to contribute towards the costs of identifying employers' needs, upgrading and updating the skills of employees and training new recruits in skills which are in short supply locally. We are also funding a local collaborative projects programme jointly with the Education Departments, to help employers and training providers to work together to define training needs and explore possible ways of meeting them.