HC Deb 10 November 1988 vol 140 cc280-1W
Mr. Soames

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the standards of training offered by the construction industry training board.

Mr. Nicholls

The construction industry training board is the lead body for setting training standards in the construction industry. It is working closely with the Training Agency and the National Council for Vocational Qualifications to establish occupational standards leading to the development of national vocational qualifications.

As a managing agent for YTS, CITB has approved training organisation status and is closely monitored by the Training Agency to ensure that the required standards of training are maintained. All the trainees are following programmes that lead towards recognised vocational qualifications.

Mr. Soames

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will seek to broaden the scope of training offered by the construction industry training board.

Mr. Nicholls

Following discussions with Ministers last year, the construction industry training board has taken steps to increase the number of young people entering the industry via YTS and to encourage employers to update and upgrade the skills of their existing work force, including managers and supervisors. The board has also recently committed nearly £8 million to support over 6,400 employment training places a year for adult entrants to the industry. I have asked the board to make its grant support for training more flexible and more accessible, and I am also discussing with the chairman the measures to be taken to attract women and ethnic minority groups into the industry.

Mr. Soames

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much money the constuction industry training board received in 1987 from the construction industry; and how much was paid out in grants.

Mr. Nicholls

In the financial year ending 31 March 1987, the construction industry training board raised £47.3 million by levy on the industry. £21.1 million was paid to employers in grants towards the costs of training and a further £10.3 million was spent in support of YTS in the industry. A further £16.2 million was used to cover the board's operating costs including the running of six training centres, the activities of its field training advisory service and its standard-setting work.

Mr. Soames

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much money the construction industry training board had in its cash balance at the bank at the end of its last financial year.

Mr. Nicholls

The latest available accounts are for the financial year ending 31 March 1987. The CITB had no cash at the hank at the end of that year. This information is taken from the 1986–87 annual report, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.