§ 72. Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to seek to encourage industry to spend more money on training.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonWe have launched a national campaign to raise awareness of the importance of adult training. One of the key messages to employers is that expenditure on training is an investment as essential as investment in plant and equipment. We are encouraging employers to reform their own training arrangements to make this investment more cost-effective. As part of the restructuring of its own adult training programmes, the Manpower Services Commission will give particular emphasis to initiatives which encourage greater attention by employers to adult training needs. For example the Commission has introduced a scheme of local grants to encourage employers' own training efforts. The Manpower Services Commission and Education Departments are also offering financial help to assist employers to collaborate with training providers to define their training needs and explore possible ways of meeting them.