§ Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Paymaster General how many engineering apprenticeships were supplied in 1979 and in 1986.
§ Mr. Trippier[pursuant to his reply, 9 March 1987, c. 19]: The information is not available in the detail requested. There is no central record of all engineering apprentices, many of whom are employed outside the engineering industry.
However, the Engineering Industry Training Board (EITB) has maintained a record of those trainees registering with it for basic craft and technician training. The record includes both trainees in firms within the industry and those employed by companies in other industries that choose to register their trainees with the board. This record does not include all engineering craft and technician trainees outside the engineering industry. Statistics for these are not available. EITB registrations for the years 1978–79 and 1985–86 are as follows:
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Registrations Year Engineering Industry Other Industries 1978–79 24,519 3,239 1985–86 9,302 1,256 Source: EITB records.
Total employment in the engineering industry has fallen by about one third since the late 1970s — and the population of people employed as craftsmen and technicians has declined by about the same amount. Apprenticeship is not the only route to craft and technician jobs. A substantial amount of initial skills training is undertaken within YTS and the expended two-year scheme will provide increased opportunity for flexible skills training relevant to employers' needs.