HC Deb 30 January 1995 vol 253 cc458-60W
Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list each training and tuition course with a total cost exceeding £5,000 paid for by(a) his Department and (b) his agencies during the last 12 months, showing the title and objectives of each course, the name of the organisations engaged, the total cost of each course, a summary of the responsibilities of staff members taking part and the process for course evaluation by the Department or agency.

Mr. Nelson

For the calendar year 1994 the information requested is:

Course description
For HM Treasury:
Title: Finance programme for generalists
Objective: To enable and prepare non-specialists—in finance—to work more effectively in the specialist finance areas of Treasury
Organisation: Management Development Associates Ltd.
Responsibility of participants: Senior managers
Evaluation: Evaluation forms from course participants from which written reports produced
Title: Management training programme—four separate courses
Objective: For good management skills to be perceived as integral for performance effectiveness
Organisation: Sundridge Park
Responsibility of participants: Senior managers
Evaluation: Evaluation forms from course participants from which written reports produced
Title: Economics for generalists
Objectives: To enable officials with general responsibilities to work more effectively with specialist economists
Organisation: London business school
Responsibility of participants: Senior managers
Evaluation: Evaluation forms from course participants from which written reports produced
Title: Equal opportunities seminars
Objective: To increase the understanding of equal opportunities with Treasury

Course description
Organisation: Pearn Kandola
Responsibility of participants: All staff
Evaluation: Evaluation forms from course participants and post-course evaluation workshops
For the Royal Mint:
Title: Commercial systems analysis
Objective: To increase the understanding of new computer systems and bow they can be applied
Organisation: W S Atkins Management Consultants
Responsibility of participants: First-line supervisors
Evaluation: Evaluation forms from course participants and feedback to departmental manager
Title: Operators training course
Objective: To become fully conversant with new equipment supplied and familiarise operators with the operator input to System 21
Organisation: Davy International Ltd.
Responsibility of participants: Shop floor operators and shift managers
Evaluation: Evaluation forms from course participants and shop floor feedback
Title: System 21 integrated training
Objective: Familiarisation operation and maintain the ability of the system
Organisation: Davy International Ltd.
Responsibility of participants: Plant electricians/technicians
Evaluation: Evaluation forms from course participants and feedback to departmental managers
Title: 1st year off-the-job Apprentice training
Objective: To gain initial skills/qualifications as part of the engineering apprenticeship
Organisation: Pontypridd technical college
Responsibility of participants: 1st year engineering apprentices
Evaluation: Achievement of NVQS and evaluation by EnTRA assessor
Title: Total quality facilitator training
Objective: To provide training for newly appointed facilitators as part of a total quality programme
Organisation: Coopers and Lybrand
Responsibility of participants: Cross-section from first line
Evaluation: Evaluation forms from course participants and feedback to quality manager
For the Central Statistical Office:
Title: Leadership and management programme
Objective: To improve the leadership and management skills of CSO staff
Organisation: Centre for Action learning
Responsibility of participants: All staff
Evaluation: Questionnaire

Course description
Title: Aspects of hardware communication
Objective: To train staff in aspects of information systems
Organisation: Networks
Responsibility of participants: Information systems staff
Evaluation: Questionnaire
For Paymaster:
Title: Customer care/Telephone skills/Letter writing
Objective: To give the pensions staff the necessary skills to deal with both pensioners and customers in various media
Organisation: West Sussex Training Association
Responsibility of participants: All staff up to higher executive officer grade in pensions sections
Evaluation: Questionnaire
For the Valuation office: None

Providing the actual costs paid in each case could be unfairly advantageous to possible future competitors. However, the total cost of the above training is £113,718 for the Treasury and £239,734 for the agencies.