asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give attention to the career development of those seeking long-term employment in the retail trades, in view of the reduction in the available supply of recruits since 1973.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the Distributive Industry Training Board is actively (1) examining career structures in distribution and associated training and education; (2) considering a scheme to encourage school leavers to take a distributive qualification on a one year college course linked to work experience during vacations; (3) offering varied grants to employers to encourage career development through college courses.