HC Deb 06 November 1989 vol 159 cc476-7W
Mr. Meacher

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment ( 1) what information he has on the level of employer investment in training employees, net of salaries;

(2) what information he has on the level of employer spending on training of employees, net of salaries, in each of the European member states.

Mr. Nicholls

[holding answer 2 November 1989]: It is estimated that employers in Great Britain spent £2.8 billion on non-labour costs on training in 1986–87. This figure is based on a survey of employers' training activities carried out in 1987. The survey included agricultural firms with less than 10 employees and the armed services. The estimated expenditure for all employers, including staff costs, was £18 billion. Figures are not available on this basis for other member states.

The EC labour costs survey shows expenditure on training by employers in the production and construction idustries in member states as a percentage of labour costs. The figures are shown in the table and exclude salaries except for apprentice wages.

Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent.
Ireland 1.3 1.4 0.4 0.3
Luxembourg 0.5 0.7 0.4 0.1
Belgium 0.4 0.4 1.0 1.0
Netherlands 0.4 0.1 0.6 0.4
Italy 0.3 0.4 0.2 0.2