§ Lord Aylestoneasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in the preparation of the Industrial Training Levy (Construction Board) Order 1984, they will bear in mind the importance of encouraging the recruitment of more apprentices in the building industry by replacing the system of a "per capita" levy by a levy based on the payroll, as recommended by the Construction Industry Training Board Working Party.
§ Lord Young of GraffhamThe proposals for an alternative form of levy put forward by the Construction Industry Training Board's Working Party have not subsequently been accepted as board policy. The board's current levy proposals therefore include provision for a per capita based occupational levy as in previous years. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Employment will not approve the making of a levy order unless he is satisfied that the levy proposals submitted by an industrial training board are necessary to encourage adequate training in the industry.
The Government clearly spelt out in the White Paper Training for Jobs (Cmnd. 9135) the need to modernise traditional training practices, including apprenticeships, in order to increase the supply of skills trainees. The Government continue to provide financial support for approved first year apprentice training through the Youth Training Scheme. I am pleased to report that in 1983–84 the Construction Industry Training Board managed a scheme which provided around 18,000 places for craft and technician trainees, and some 90 per cent. of those who completed a second year of skills training.