§ Dr. Glynasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the effect that the construction industry training levy has on small businesses which employ a higher ratio of skilled craftsmen than the larger firms.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonI understand from the Construction Industry Training Board that companies on its register with an annual payroll of less than £15,000 are specially exempted from paying levy. These small companies, however, receive about £3.1 million from the board in training grants.
Companies with an annual payroll between £15,000 and £30,000 pay about £1.5 million in levy to the board, about 96 per cent. of which is returned in the form of grants. On average, companies of all sizes receive back from the board in training grants about 83 per cent of their levy.