monitor councils

Press, 8 October 1987, Page 4

monitor councils

Political reporter The Minister of Employment, Mr Goff, said there were a series of mechanisms available to allow him to monitor the performance of the Regional Employment Access Councils. It was the Minister who appointed the councils in the first place and he had the authority to reconsider their plans.

The councils could be directed to refer any decision to the Minister for approval, and he. could appoint an Independent committee to oversee their activities.

They must compile a regional training plan, he said, and identify ways of achieving the goals set Regional reports had to

be submitted quarterly to the Government on progress made. Also, the councils had access to a head office agency set up to help them, which was also a way of monitoring their progress, There were a range of measures to monitor the councils but he was not sure that perfection had been reached yet He was asked if it were because they were being forced to cut some training programmes that some councils were rejecting Government policy to fund capital equipment purchase for training providers. That was not the case, Mr Goff said, and what the Government, wanted

Without itself having to supervise all the details. Mr Goff denied suggestions that the councils were seeking to mbotage the Government’s objectives. That the matter had been discovered and corrected showed their was good monitoring. ■ He was asked what he planned to do about councils which had refused to Include aptnenticeable skills in their courses. . It was hot the Government’s intention to give anyone a monopoly, on apprenticeable skills, Mr Goff said. They were told this and some were now teaching apjprenticeaNe skills. Further reports, page M