§ Mr. CallaghanTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of the major areas of employment where there will be skill shortage in the remainder of the 1990s; and what assessment she has made of the impact these shortages will have on manufacturing industry. [39995]
§ Mr. PaiceThe Department commissions an annual survey of employers assessing the extent of hard-to-fill vacancies currently and in 12 months' time. Rapidly changing technology, international competition and customer needs mean skills shortages cannot be predicted too far ahead. It is for local training and enterprise councils to monitor labour market needs in their own areas. Government programmes such as training for work, national traineeships and modern apprenticeships provide the basis of provision for the identified needs.