§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Employment what positive discrimination is provided by Her Majesty's Government in the provision for adult training in skillcentres in areas of high unemployment.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonIn areas of high unemployment it is the Government's policy to provide adults with training which will offer them better prospects of securing jobs. Training is commissioned from whichever provider can deliver training of the right quality in the most cost-effective manner.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will list the cuts envisaged in adult training provision by Merseyside skillcentres in the financial year 1984–85;
(2) if he will make a statement on the proposed cuts in adult training in Merseyside skillcentres, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside;
(3) how many training places will be cut by the Manpower Services Commission in the north-west region and on Merseyside, respectively, in the next financial year.
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§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe Manpower Services Commission's plans for adult training provision in the north west and on Merseyside are under consideration in the context of the adult training strategy published in November. The objective of the new strategy will be to provide a larger number of people with training relevant to the needs of industry and thereby to offer them better prospects of securing jobs. This is likely to mean a reduced requirement by the Manpower Services Commission for training of the kind provided in skillcentres, which will be seeking more training business directly with employers.