§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Paymaster General how many youth training scheme placements were (a) closed down and (b) not accepted on health and safety grounds in 1984.
§ Mr. TrippierDuring 1984, 169 youth training scheme work placements were closed down and 61 were not accepted for the scheme primarily on health and safety grounds. In addition to these placements, one mode B1 scheme was closed in 1984 on grounds of health and safety.
§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Paymaster General how many engineering apprenticeships were available in the east midlands in 1979 and 1984; and what was the comparable national figure for those years.
§ Mr. TrippierThe information is not available in the precise form requested. However, figures provided by the engineering industry training board show that the number of craft and technician trainees registered as commencing training in 1979–80 was 2,359 in the east midlands, and 26,202 nationally; the corresponding numbers for 1983–84 were 1,059 and 12,040.
The numbers entering traditional apprenticeships are becoming increasingly irrelevant as a measure of the real level of skills training being undertaken as industry's skill needs change. For many industries including the expanding new technology sector, apprenticeship is not the usual means of achieving full skills status. The youth training scheme already enables a substantial amount of initial skills training to be carried out, and the expanded two year scheme will provide increased opportunity for flexible skills training relevant to employers' needs.