§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the appropriateness of the present arrangements for agricul-tural and related training in the light of the period of considerable change in the industry.
§ Mr. MacGregorOver the past 22 years the agricultural training board has made a most valuable contribution in developing training provision in the agricultural industry. I believe, however, that it is timely to consider on what lines the future role of the board might most appropriately develop, taking into account the changing patterns of employment and associated training needs in agriculture and related industries; the diversification of the range of training offered by the agricultural colleges; and the Government's plans for the reform of training set out in the White Papers Cms. 534 and 540. In the circumstances I have, with my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales, and with the agreement of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Employment and for Education and Science, decided to institute a review with the following terms of reference
To consider the future role of the Agricultural Training board (ATB) in meeting the agricultural and related training needs for the 1990s bearing in mind the Secretary of State for Employment's proposals on training in 'Employment for the 1990s', and the proposals of the Secretary of State for Scotland contained in 'Scottish Enterprise', and the resources and facilities available at agricultural colleges; and, from the basis of the existing Agricultural Training Board legislation, to make specific recommendations to Agriculture Ministers on the national and local organisation and structure most appropriate to meet those needs; and to report by Autumn 1989.This review will be conducted by Mr. John Smith, a partner in Arthur Young who today becomes chairman elect of the agricultural training board. He will be assisted in his task by the following assessors:
- Mr. J. S. Barber, Cavick House Farm, Wymondham, Norfolk
- Mr. D. H. Wilkinson, Southdown Farm, Ringstead, Dorset
- Mr. D. Rose, Principal, Barony College, Dumfries
- Mr. T. Jones, Plas Gwyn, Llangyniew, Welshpool, Powys Mr. A. G. Harris, Principal, Harper Adams College, Newport, Shropshire
- Mr. P. Brown HMI, Staff Inspector for Agricultural Education (England).