Clause 39
Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill
3:00 pm
Stephen Williams (Bristol West, Liberal Democrat)
We have several groups of amendments to consider under the clause, so I will be brief in discussing this group. We welcome the recognition of the importance of training, particularly by private sector employers, for the good of businesses and their employees.
I share some of the concerns outlined by the hon. Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton. Many British businesses have exemplary records in providing training for their employees. My experience from working in the private sector for large companies and consulting firms for 17 years before becoming an MP was that the quality of the training was often second to none. It formed a superb part of my professional and personal development.
None the less, some businesses do not do their best to provide training for their employees. It is those businesses that we should provide with a legislative nudge, but it is important that the nudge does not unduly affect the performance and practices of businesses that already provide such opportunities. We should ease the regulatory burden on them.
Liberal Democrat amendment 11 reinforces the amendments that were tabled by the hon. Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton. Businesses should be able to show that they have good appraisal procedures, which include discussion of the training needs of employees. All hon. Members are employers. A key part of the appraisals that I hold with my staff is asking what training they need to enable them to perform their role to a better standard. I am sure that we all undertake such discussions and that they are documented. The purpose of amendment 11 is to make the provision unnecessary if a training discussion has already taken place as part of the employer’s personnel practices, as long as it has been held in the preceding 12 months and was documented.