§ Dr. Kim HowellsTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what he intends to do to overcome the shortage of young people in Wales with the higher education qualifications and training required by industry and the financial services.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsThe reform of college governing bodies under the Education Reform Act, the priorities 151W adopted by the Wales Advisory Body in formulating its advice on the distribution of the higher education quantum and the establishment of a transbinary Wales access unit to encourage and support the development of access courses will all assist higher education institutions to meet the demands of industry for highly skilled manpower. We have been encouraging employers to prepare for potential labour shortages by retraining existing workers, and drawing on the unemployed and other adults entering or re-entering the labour market. Our own training programmes are designed to facilitate this. We are particularly aware of the needs of the financial services sector in Wales and my right hon. Friend is discussing with interested parties measures to strengthen the skill base. He will be making an announcement on this shortly.