HC Deb 12 March 1986 vol 93 cc495-6W
56. Mr. Livsey

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will estimate the current short-fall from the requirements of the industry in computer graduates, for the latest convenient date.

Mr. Butcher

Steps have been taken to increase the supply of graduates with information technology related skills in response to industry's concerns about shortages. It is always difficult to provide precise estimates of skills shortages because of problems of definition. However, my Department has instigated a study by the Institute of Manpower Studies on the expected patterns of supply and demand for IT manpower to 1990, the result of which should be available in a few months.