Engineering Apprentices Dr. Hampson asked the Secretary of of State for Employment what is the cost to public funds of a first year off-the-job place for an apprentice in engineering. Mr. Jim Lester I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that it currently makes available to the engineering industry training board (EITB) from public funds: (a) the full cost of grants, each of £1,536, payable to small firms, exempted from levy payment by virtue of size, for the first year off-the-job training of craft and technician apprentices;(b) the full cost of grants, each of £3,000, payable to employers in respect of the first year off-the-job training of craft and technician apprentices recruited in excess of the firm's own immediate requirements. This grant is to encourage additional recruitment to meet the EITB's assessment of the overall industry skill needs.