§ Mr. CongdonTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has now completed his review of the engineering construction industry training board; and if he will make a statement.
Holiday England and Wales Northern Ireland Scotland Monday January 2 In lieu of January 1 BH BH — Monday January 2 New Year — — BH Tuesday January 3 In lieu of January 1 — — BH Friday March 17 St. Patrick's Day — BH — Friday April 14 Good Friday BH BH BH Monday April 17 Easter Monday BH BH — Monday May 1 Early May Bank Holiday — — BH Monday May 8 Early May Bank Holiday BH BH BH Monday May 8 Bank Holiday — — BH Monday May 29 Spring Bank Holiday BH BH BH Wednesday July 12 Battle of the Boyne anniversary (Orangemen's Day) — BH1 — Monday August 7 Summer Bank Holiday — — BH Monday August 28 Summer Bank Holiday BH BH — Monday December 25 Christmas Day BH BH BH Tuesday December 26 Boxing Day BH BH BH BH=Bank/public holiday.
1indicates a provisional date, still subject to proclamation by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
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§ Miss WiddecombeI am pleased to announce that the review of the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board has now been completed.
The review was wide-ranging and thorough. It included consultation with representatives of employers and employees in the engineering construction industry and an independent survey of all employers in scope to the board. There was widespread support from the industry for the retention of a statutory board with the power to raise a levy on employers.
While it remains Government policy that sector training arrangements should normally be non-statutory, the Government are persuaded that different considerations continue to apply in the engineering construction industry. Since becoming an independent board in 1991, the ECITB has made substantial progress towards modernising training in its industry. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has decided that it will be reconstituted as a statutory training board with effect from 23 July, until the end of March 1998, which will enable it to build on these achievements.
I shall be writing to the chairman of the new board in due course to set out in more detail the Government's expectations of the board. A copy of that letter will be placed in the Library.