§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what shortages of(a) drivers, (b) signallers and (c) tracklayers exist within the railway industry; and how many vacancies there are within the industry for (i) middle managers, (ii) graduates and (iii) others. [50904]
§ John HealeyThe Progress Report on "Delivering the Framework for Skills in the Rail Industry", published in December 2001 by the Strategic Rail Authority and my Department, gives the following information on skill shortages for these occupations:
Occupational group Population Number of skill shortages Percentage Trade Occupations Train driving 19,000 855 4.5 Signal operation (and control) 6,500 1(795) 100 1(12.3) 1.5 Track laying and maintenance 10,000 1,200 12 First line/middle management 18,650 755 4 Graduate and professional staff 20,000 1,638 8 Other occupations 45,050 2— 2— 1 These figures have been amended since the report was published, as new information became available. 2 Not available.
§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to her answer of 10 April 2002,Official Report, column 119W, on skills shortages in the railway industry, if she will place in the Library copies of the "Framework for Skills in the Rail Industry" 159W and the progress report; to whom, and where, she announced the funding for new adult apprenticeships; and to which significant skill shortages she refers. [51034]
§ John HealeyCopies of the "Framework for Skills in the Rail Industry" and the progress report on it have been placed in the Library. I announced the funding for adult apprenticeships for the rail industry at the Transport Skills Seminar on 14 February 2002. The significant skill shortages I referred to are those for train driving, signal operation (and control), electrification and track laying and maintenance.