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Peering through the training fog

11th August 1972, Page 17
11th August 1972
Page 17
Page 17, 11th August 1972 — Peering through the training fog
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

This week's Government statement on training policy (overleaf) is no more than a holding action and leaves large grey areas whose details will remain unresolved until we see the legislative proposals in the new session of Parliament. The Road Transport Industry Training Board has immediately pOinted out that having an additional year for continuation of levy/grant, compared with earlier proposals, will considerably ease the transition to the new system. Operators will be little affected in the interim period, since the Government's policy proposals are in line with the RTITB's long-stated intention to work towards disengagement from levy/grant for those companies who establish and maintain satisfactory training.

Still unclear is the future of such facilities as the Motecs, when the Board will be drawing from operators only a 1 per cent levy from a reduced and reducing — number of firms. The Treasury will be responsible for Board administration costs and training advisory expenses, but we still do not know who — if anyone — is going to be asked to pay for some of the substantial facilities and services which are at present financed by the levy.

The RTITB believes the 1 per cent levy on the larger firms should provide enough incentive for them to reach and maintain training standards that will enable them to claim exemption from levy. But we can foresee that the exclusion of even more small-payroll firms will lead to an outcry from the bigger companies that the unlevied small men are poaching trained staff.

The small operator has, from the start, understandably resented the levy and administration costs and the Board has found it costly to collect from him. Much will now depend upon the new cut-off point for exemption. As the National average staff in haulage firms is 12, a cut-off point higher than about £15,000 payroll would mean that more than the average were being exempted — and that could raise poaching to a really troublesome level.


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