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he is employed by that firm, another firm, or is not actually in employment, may apply for grants.

45. Where a firm is covered by an Industrial Training Board, the Ministry will pay the grant through the board who will pass it to the firm, together with any additional sum to which it might be entitled under the board's scheme.

46. Any firm not covered by a Board may apply for grant to the Ministry of Labour (T.C. 2) 32, St. James's Square, London, S. W. 1., or any Regional Office of the Ministry. A form on which grants can be claimed is being devised and copies will be sent to R.O.s. The additonal grants payable by the Boards are:

Board

Engineering, Iron and Steel and Shipbuilding Boards

Construction Board..

Engineering, Iron and Steel and Shipbuilding Boards

Construction Board....

Course leading to

A degree of a Technological University or an award of the Council for National Academic Awards:

£200 in respect of the first period of one year's practical training at the works (or £100 in respect of the first two six monthly periods).

£20 per month in respect of each period of practical training at the works.

Higher National Diploma:

£100 in respect of the first two six monthly periods of practical training at the works.

£200 per month in respect of each period of practical training at the works.

INTEGRATION OF TRAINING AND EDUCATION

47. The question of the integration of training and education has received considerable attention and in July 1965 the Minister announced that he will normally approve the proposals of industrial training boards only if it is made a condition of grant to employers that day release, or the equivalent, is allowed to young people in occupations requiring a substantial amount of training, in order that they can attend appropriate educational courses. Periods of training lasting a year or more will normally be regarded as "substantial" but there may be occasions when release for further education is desirable even though the training lasts less than a year. The term "Young person" is not necessarily to be limited to those under the age of 18 as there may be older people in need of this type of education. This decision will increase considerably the demands made on technical colleges but it is expected that colleges will generally be able to meet this demand. Where special difficulties arise, the Departments of Education will be prepared to consider with the education authorities concerned what special measures may be needed to meet demand.

G.T.CS AND THE BOARDS

48. The Construction and Engineering Boards have been informed of the proposed expansion in the number of adult training places in G.T.Cs.

49. It has been accepted in principle by the Engineering Board that it should meet the cost of first year apprentice training in G.T.Cs and of apprentice training-but not pre-apprentice training-in technical colleges. The Construction Board will consider this matter at its next meeting.

General

ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS

50. The variety of administrative problems which the first five boards have encountered are well described in the recently published reports of the Boards for the period ended 31st March last.

Registers of Employers

51. Boards are continuing to add to the registers of establishments which were set up with local office assistance and in this respect the Construction Board is faced with a difficult problem in trying to identify the large numbers of employers with less than five workers.

52. Of the four Boards so far set up in 1965 the Electricity Supply, Water Supply and Gas Boards are unlikely to require Ministry assistance in preparing a register of employers. The Ceramics, Glass and Mineral Products Board will require assistance, however, and a circular has been issued (M.L.3C. 40/52, Supplement No. 6) setting out the procedure which is to be followed. The main differences between the action required under this circular and the earlier exercise are that, instead of Forms C.F. 205, cards completed from local office registers of employers will be sent to the Board; that each employer will receive a copy of the guide to the Act; and that the letter informing the employer that he appears to be within scope of the Board will be signed by the Chairman and will bear the Board's address. These changes have been made in response to the many useful suggestions received from R.O.s. and it is intended to use the same procedure for future Boards.

Organisation of Boards and Liaison with the Ministry

53. A list of the addresses of Boards, showing the names of the Secretaries is at Appendix 4.

54. Controllers will have noted from the Headquarters Directory that Training Branch B has been reorganised. The various aspects of policy relating to the work of the Boards and of the Central Training Council have been allocated to the four divisions in the Branch, and to divisions T.C.1 and T.C.2 in Training Branch C. Assessors will be advised by the appropriate division on issues arising from the work of their Boards and the assessors will be the normal channel of communication between the Ministry and their Boards. The division will consult other branches as necessary.

55. So far only the Wool and Iron and Steel Boards have set up area committees and these have advisory functions. The three Committees established by the Wool Board cover the West Riding and Midlands; the West of England; and Scotland. The Ministry is represented on them by officers from Yorkshire and Humberside R.O., South Western R.O. and Scottish Headquarters respectively. 56. The Iron and Steel Training Board has decided that Committees should be appointed to cover the areas previously covered by the Area Training Committees of the British Iron and Steel Federation. These areas are Scotland; the North East; the North West; the North Midlands; the Midlands; and the South West. Arrangements are being made to define the boundaries of the areas so that statistics can be produced on the basis of the Ministry's regions. The Area Training Officers of the British Iron and Steel Federation are being transferred to the Board and one of their duties will be to service the area Committees.

57. The Engineering Board has decided not to appoint Area Committees for the time being but has divided the country into nine regions for administrative purposes. These regions cover the same areas as the Ministry's regions and each will be in charge of a Regional Training Officer. So far, appointments have been made as follows:

(1) Midlands: Mr. T. H. Kelsey, M.A., M.I.E.E., M.I.W.

(2) Yorkshire and Lincolnshire: Mr. J. R. Lloyd.

(3) Scotland: Mr. F. M. Inglis, M.I.I.S.O.

(4) North West: Mr. K. J. Durrands, M.Sc., A. M.I. Mech. E., A. M.I.E. E.

(5) Wales: Mr. R. J. Banard, B.Sc., A. M.I.E.E.

(6) Northern: Mr. C. E. W. Dalton, O.B.E., A.M.I.E.E.

(7) Eastern and Southern: Mr. J. A. Fredericks, B.Sc., A.C.G.I.

These offices are taking up post during the autumn.

Publicity for the Work of Boards

58. A public relations group, under the chairmanship of the Ministry's Chief Information Officer, has been set up to deal with mutual problems concerned with the publicity arrangements for industrial training. It consists of a representative from each training board and of officers of the Department. The group will hold regular meetings.

Overseas Trainees

59. Discussions are being held with the training boards and with the Ministry of Overseas Development with a view to bringing about an increase in the number of trainees from overseas.

Questions of Scope

60. Decisions on scope rest with the Boards, subject to the employer's right of appeal to the tribunal. Routing queries are being cleared by L.O.s, however, with the help of R.O.s. in accordance with M.L.C/40/52 et seq.

THE CENTRAL TRAINING COUNCIL

61. The Central Training Council was set up in May 1964 to advise the Minister on the exercise of his functions under the Industrial Training Act and on any other matter relating to industrial or commercial training which he may refer to it.

62. The Council has since set up five Committees. Their functions are:

(1) General Policy Committee to advise the Council on general policy on industrial training, and on the form and contents of publications by the Ministry.

(2) Commercial and Clerical Training Committee to recommend to the Council what guidance should be issued to Training Boards in respect of training for commercial and clerical occupations.

(3) Research Committee to consider the needs for research into training for employment in industry and to recommend to the Council the steps that should be taken to meet the needs; and to advise the Minister on the merits of particular research projects, sponsored by training boards or otherwise. (4) Scottish Committee, and

(5) Committee for Wales to consider matters arising out of the implementation and operation of the Industrial Training Act as they affect Scotland/ Wales and to report to the Council from time to time.

The sixth Committee on the Training of Training Officers referred to in paragraph 38, is in process of being set up.

63. The Council has issued C.T.C. Memorandum No. 1 on the subject of Industrial Training and Education and Memorandum No. 2 on Safety Training. There has been a wide distribution of the memoranda to training boards, to both sides of industry and through the C.Y.E.E. The texts have been reproduced in the Ministry of Labour Gazette. There was in fact considerable interest in the first memorandum and many copies were issued to individual firms and organisations from HQ. While it is not practicable to set up a mailing list any reasonable demand for copies should, of course, be met both at HQ. and in the regions.

64. Among the subjects being considered by the Council are the first annual reports of the Training Boards, the training of training officers and the length of training and apprenticeship. The Council is about to submit to the Minister its first Report drawing attention to the more important issues facing the Minister, the Council and the Boards.

65. The Research Committee is currently considering the application of programmed instruction to the work of the Boards, the policy with regard to grants payable by the Ministry in respect of approved research projects and the setting up of a register of research projects. The General Policy Committee has under consideration management and supervisory training and will shortly be considering a paper on the first principles of training.

66. The Commercial and Clerical Committee is sponsoring a survey of commercial and clerical occupation in this country with a view to making recommendations to the Council about training for this type of employment. Grade 2 and Grade 3 E.E.s are sending questionnaires to one-fifth of the establishments on their registers employing 100-1,000 employees. The recommendations of the Committee are expected to provide the basis for training schemes to be developed by the Boards. The Secretary and three Members of the Committee have visited Germany, Denmark and France and have studied commercial and clerical training there. The Committee hopes to report to the Council in the spring of next year. An interim statement is to be sent to Boards, for information, in the near future. T.B. 3 September 1965.

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APPENDIX 2 (par. 14)

MINISTRY OF LABOUR

14th April, 1965

WRITTEN REPLY TO PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION

Wednesday, 14th April, 1965

20. Mr. Alan Williams (Swansea, West): To ask the Minister of Labour, what financial assistance he will give to industrial training boards.

Mr. Ray Gunter replied

Under the powers given me by Section 5(1) of the Industrial Training Act, 1964, I have decided to make grants to Boards

(1) to meet the whole of a Board's administrative expenses (including the cost of essential furniture and office equipment) for the first twelve months of its existence;

(2) to reimburse 25 per cent of current expenditure incurred by a Board in connection with the provision of training courses for training officers, training supervisors and instructors. Because of the urgency of the need for more trained persons of these kinds, I propose to increase the rate of grant under this head to 50 per cent of expenditure incurred in the first eighteen months from the date on which a Board is established;

(3) to meet 50 per cent of the cost of research undertaken or sponsored by a Board. This will include projects undertaken to try out new methods of training;

(4) to make a contribution towards the cost of the first two periods of industrial training forming part of sandwich courses leading to a degree of a technological university or an award of the Council for National Academic Awards, or to a High National Diploma, started within three years beginning September 1965;

(5) to meet for a period of five years, 25 per cent of the current expenses (excluding the wages of trainees) of additional places provided for "off the job" training.

I am prepared to consider grant-aiding other projects undertaken or sponsored by Boards in order to improve and extend training.

Grants are conditional upon my approval of a Board's estimates of relevant expenditure, and will be subject to maxima agreed in the light of these estimates. I am also prepared to consider applications from Boards for loans to help them to acquire any necessary fixed assets, such as buildings or machines, or to provide working capital.

All these arrangements are subject to review in the light of experience.

APPENDIX 3 (par. 40)

TRAINING OF TRAINING OFFICERS

COLLEGES, ETC., CONSIDERING THE PROVISION OF COURSES IN THE 1965/66 ACADEMIC YEAR

*Birkenhead Technical College-fee £40

Four week sandwich course

18th-29th October, 1965

29th November-10th December, 1965

*Blackburn College of Technology and Design-£50 Four week sandwich course with an eight week gap

8th-19th November, 1965

17th-28th January, 1966

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