As an individual I should like to state my disquiet at the direction to which at present funding for training craft apprentices is given. Far too big a percentage is given to the educational bodies, colleges etc when more should be directed at the firms who are offerring apprenticeships.

Also on enquiring with the Assembly and ELWA a few years ago, they had 1. no database to indicate where and in what trades there were vacancies for apprentices.

2. They had no idea which firms in Wales had apprentices.

3. They had no information as to where there would be vacancies in future.

4. They had no information regarding the number of apprentices who had that year gained their debentures.

I found this this lack of information very worrying when the Assembly via ELWA was actually funding apprenticeships with public money (My Taxes!) and any company wishing to invest in Wales would need to know the Craft base of the country.

In fact there are hardly any apprenticeships being offered to the youth - who perhaps do not get the 5 GCEs. Traditionally, apprentices formed the vaste bulk of this type of youth. This is now being denied them. As a result we have overqualified craft apprentices who just want to go on to be an engineer and show no interest in perfecting their craft. We have nurses - who now need degrees, who can write a report all right, but are not too keen an giving a bedpan to a patient. (What graduate would?)

Is this why we have craft shortages. Too much academic requirement.when firms are struggling and going bankrupt.

Additionally, I attended one of the ELWA public meetings, Two thirds of the meeting was taken up by the paid managers of Charities. They were quite proud of the fact that all their work was done by unpaid workers. it was disgusting that public funds go to Charities. They are now big businesses and should employ and pay wages and taxes like every other industry.

Mrs Viv Davies