§ Mr. Colin ShepherdTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what account he is taking in his plans for training and enterprise councils of arrangements for training at residential and other specialist colleges for people with disabilities which are currently centrally funded by the Training Agency; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HowardThe TECs will need to take full account of the need for residential and other specialist training provision for people with disabilities. It is important that TECs should have the responsibility for planning, delivering and accounting for all training for people under Training Agency programmes, including people with disabilities, through the full range of help available. They should be developing ways of delivering those pro grammes so that even people with quite severe disabilities can be trained for local jobs in an integrated setting. The TECs should be taking decisions on the funding and delivery of training with a clear appreciation of, and responsibility for, the cost effectiveness of different means at their disposal.
During 1990–91 and 1991–92 my Department will continue to fund centrally residential training for people with disabilities. Officials will work closely with the providers of training and TECs during that time to pilot possible ways in which TECs might become directly involved in decisions about the referral of suitable trainees and the funding of residential places. A decision on whether to devolve responsibility for referral and funding arrangements wholly to TECs would have to take full account of the need for continuity of provision in this important area, and of the particular circumstances of the providers and their client groups. No such decision will be taken until the pilot arrangements have been thoroughly evaluated.