Training (Hansard, 6 December 1990)

§ Sir John Farr
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will examine the roles of further education colleges, some sixth forms, and youth training providers to identify and discourage any duplication or waste in staff, premises, equipment and operational costs.

Mr. Jackson
Training and enterprise councils are being given new responsibilities for business education partnerships and work related further education and will be closely involved in TVEI planning. The councils are well placed to address questions of efficiency and resource allocation, in partnership with local education authorities and independent educational institutions.

§ Sir John Farr
To ask the Secretary of Stale for Employment if he will take frequent soundings of existing partners in education and training to ensure training and enterprise councils have the best available information on current and developing positions, and to give confidence to companies, schools, careers and managing agents that changes will be negotiated and not imposed.

Mr. Jackson
My Department is in regular contact with education and training interests and their views are always taken into account. In addition, I expect training and enterprise councils to consult relevant organisations in their local area.
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§ Sir John Farr
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what incentives he intends to offer to encourage smaller companies to support human resource development through jobs with training.

§ Mr. Forth
The Government are committed to encouraging all firms, including small ones, to invest more effectively in the skills which their businesses need. This commitment is fully reflected in the prominence given to this issue in the strategic guidance for training and enterprise councils (TECs). The TECs are responding with plans for a wide range of activities and incentives to support this objective, all of which are tailored to meet particular local circumstances.
Training and enterprise councils and the national training task force are also introducing a new initiative, "Investors in People", which is designed to encourage all companies, including smaller ones, to appreciate the business benefits of effective training. Effective training and development will be formally recognised as "Investors In People". This will be important to customers and potential employees.