§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number in modern apprenticeships in engineering at(a) craft, (b) technician and (c) student levels in (i) Wales and (ii) each region of Wales for which statistics are available. [4138]
§ Mr. HagueThere is no information available centrally on the number currently participating in modern apprenticeships in engineering. Information from the Department for Education and Employment modern apprenticeship database indicates that the number starting on modern apprenticeships in engineering is as shown in the table:
Starts in modern apprenticeships in engineering1, 1995–96 TEC area Craft related occupations2 Other occupations3 Gwent 113 16 Mid Glamorgan 139 19 Powys 4— 24 North-east Wales 114 4— North-west Wales 4— 4— South Glamorgan n/a n/a West Wales 105 71 Wales 494 136 Notes:
1 Engineering is defined as: engineering manufacturing; air transport; telecommunications; electrical installation: engineering construction; marine engineering and Welsh manufacturing engineering. It excludes other sectors of manufacturing.2 Craft and related occupations are defined as: skilled construction; skilled engineering, metal machining and instrument making, electrical and electronic trade; metal forming, welding and related trades; vehicle trades; textiles; printing and woodworking; food preparation, horticulture and other craft occupations.3 This includes 14 in science and engineering associated professions.Source:
Department for Education and Employment modern apprenticeship database.4 Indicates figures which cannot be given for reasons of confidentiality or reliability.
§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the Engineering Council for Wales concerning increasing the status of engineering among school leavers, school teachers and parents in Wales. [4132]
§ Mr. HagueNone, but from reports of routine contacts between my officials and the Engineering Centre for Wales I know that the centre's new executive chairman shares my keenness to raise the profile of engineering as a career choice for school leavers.
I understand that the centre is re-examining its strategies for achieving this, seeking to build upon existing links with the education business partnerships. It will also be a key player in Wales in helping to promote 1997 as the Year of Engineering Success—YES.
289W
§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairmen of the boards of governors of university of Wales institutes at Cardiff and Newport, the chairmen of South Glamorgan and Gwent training and enterprise councils, and the chairman of the Higher Education Funding Council Wales in relation to the training and education of skilled and qualified engineers in south-east Wales. [4155]
§ Mr. HagueThe supply of skilled and qualified people for the manufacturing sector is a key priority in "People and Prosperity: an Agenda for Action in Wales" and, as such, features regularly in discussions which I arid my Department hold with training and enterprise councils and the Welsh funding councils. I have asked the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales to give priority to science and technology courses and I met the chairman of the council last month to discuss progress. I shall be meeting the chairman of the Council for Welsh TECs on 18 November to discuss skills supply in manufacturing.