§ Mr. Brightasked the Secretary of State for Employment what funds are available for training in the retail industry; and how much has been spent on this training by the Distributive Industries Training Trust in each of the financial years since 1979–80.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonInformation on the amount of public-funded assistance available to the retail industry can be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the Manpower Services Commission makes a wide range of grants available to all employers within the industry including for computer skills training, the adoption of redundant apprentices and the industrial placement of sandwich course students as well as for new industry-wide initiatives concerned with the training of managers, trainers, women and ethnic groups. In addition, funding under the youth training scheme and the adult training strategy is available for training school leavers and adults respectively.
The Distributive Industries Training Trust is an independent organisation which was established last year and is registered with the Charity Commission. I understand that the trustees have decided that, for the first two years, training should be funded from the interest accruing from the trust's invested capital. Some training funds have been approved recently and further applications will be considered.