§ Mr. Michael Marshallasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what steps he is taking to improve the availability of high technology and information technology training for mature staff in both public and private sectors;
(2) what steps he is taking to encourage employers to retrain existing staff in information technology and high technology skills.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonPrimary responsibility for retraining existing employees will continue to remain with employers in both the public and the private sector. However, the Government's pump priming support for adult training gives priority to new technology skills and to new open learning techniques. These include the open tech programme, priority skills training and local training grants to employers. We are also improving access by employed people to new technology training through skillcentre new technology access centres, information technology centres and the access to information technology scheme.