To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to provide and encourage improved training provision for the shoe repairing industry.

Provision of training is primarily the responsibility of employers, but Employment Department funding is being provided to support youth training and employment training in the shoe repairing industry. The Department is also helping the industry to define and meet its training needs by promoting more effective industry training organisation arrangements. Funding is also being provided for the development of vocational qualifications in shoe repair.