§ 28. Dr. ReidTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to improve skills training in the retail sector.
§ Mr. CopeThe Government hope that employers within the retail sector will work closely with training and enterprise councils as they are established, to examine the local labour market and assess key skill needs and the adequacy of existing training arrangements.
The Government are also seeking to establish national vocational qualifications based on competence. The retail sector recently launched its new retail certificate in England and Wales and the certificate in retail distribution in Scotland. These qualifications set standards for trainees in the retail sector. The introduction of YTS and employment training into retailing provides trainees with a properly structured training programme leading to these qualifications.
It was encouraging to see that the 1988 national training award winners included winners from the retail sector, for example B & Q and J. Sainsbury.
§ 59. Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what help the senior management buy-out team of the Skills Training Agency have received either(a) financially or (b) professionally from his Department.
§ Mr. CopeAs I told the House on 13 March (Official Report, 13 March column 25), we shall provide financial assistance to the management buy-out team towards the costs of obtaining external professional advice. No professional help has been offered from within my Department.