Skills Shortages

Mr. Barry Jones
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on his plans to tackle skills shortages in Wales.

Mr. Wyn Roberts
The strength of the economy is leading to increasing demand for skills. The Government have made a massive increase in investment in training since 1979, when the Training Commission's expenditure in Wales was £31 million. Estimated expenditure in the next two years will be over £200 million.The Training Commission is continuing to develop its programmes, and employment training, which begins in September 1988, will provide unemployed adults with the skills employers need.