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Jason Ford
The General Election steps up a gear this week with Labour launching its manifesto on the day Parliament is dissolved ahead of the main event on 6 May.
The election trail
To coincide with the election, PolicyNet - the network run by the Royal Academy of Engineering for people working in policy roles at all levels in engineering, science and technology - is inviting the three main political parties to put forth their party’s plans for science and engineering. First up is Adam Afriyie MP, shadow minister for Science and Innovation, who will deliver his brief today.
The Engineer has a head-start on election issues, having already sounded out Afriyie, plus the Lib Dem’s Evan Harris and Labour science minister Lord Drayson for their views which can be read by clicking here or by following the link at the bottom of the page.
Still on an election theme and news that the Conservative Party is to unveil details of its plans for apprenticeships today. The shadow skills minister John Hayes is expected to announce proposals that include moving funding from the ’Train to Gain’ scheme to ‘straightforward apprenticeships’; reducing overheads and paperwork; and offering £2,000 to small businesses to take on apprentices.
On Wednesday this week the Health & Safety Executive and Environment Agency will bring Hertfordshire Oil Storage, British Pipeline Agency, TAV Engineering, and Motherwell Control Systems 2003 to trial at St Albans Crown Court on charges eminating from the Buncefield oil depot explosion.
The explosion, which took place on 11 Dec 2005, injured 40 people and caused Europe’s biggest peacetime fire. Investigators believe the blast was caused by a tank overfilling because cut-off equipment failed. Total UK have admitted three charges and will be sentenced at the end of this trial.
This Wednesday also sees the Sensors and Instrumentation for Monitoring Cell Toxicity workshop taking place at the University of the West of England. Experts in cell technology and alternative testing technology will meet to share knowledge and listen to speakers on a range of related subjects.
‘This workshop will explore the requirements and applications of sensors and instrumentation for monitoring cell toxicity,’ said Prof Richard Luxton, director of the Institute for Bio Sensing Research. ‘Testing for cell toxicity is becoming a critical component for the testing of new cosmetics and testing industrial chemicals under the REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals) legislation.’
Readers' comments (6)
Alan Fielding | 12 Apr 2010 4:18 pm
I'd be interested to know who is going to train these apprentices, if and when they come into being. Over the last three decades we have lost so many wonderfully skilled men that I have my doubts as to whether there is anyone left to train them.
Cynical old me believes that engineering will still be down on the list of priorities for any government that comes to power, despite pre-election pledges by any party.
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Clive Gardner | 12 Apr 2010 5:13 pm
All the big engineering companies in Leicester have closed.There is nowhere to train apprentices, and if training academies were set up where would they get a job when they finished their apprenticeship?
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Peter murray | 12 Apr 2010 6:23 pm
My apprenticeship, in the mid-1950's, like so many others was excellent. The basic model could still be used today. I am still working and using the knowledge.
No comments were made about the 30,000 "new" apprenticeships Gordon annonced last year, but then 10,000 of them, at £1000 per time, were to be in Hospitality at McDonalds! At least the 3 spokesmen are using some sense.
I think the politications are looking for votes, as usual, I remember Blair giving simialr promises first time around.
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David | 13 Apr 2010 9:41 am
Apprenticeships ceased to have any relevance when companies decided that technicians were not required and devalued these types of jobs to lower unskilled workers.
A case of too many chiefs and not enough indians and that's why we face the economic mess we have managed with a fair degree of success.
We need a second industrial revolution driven by inventive, risk taking people and a government willing to invest in the long term regeneration of our indusrties.
We were once Great Britain because of our engineering skills. We are in danger of becoming third world country due to the stupidity and greed of the unregulated, so called financial experts.
Clever cheats get rich, honest fools are made poorer. Its time for another revolution.
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Alan Fielding | 13 Apr 2010 4:27 pm
Mr Clive Gardner has hit the nail squarely on the head, metaphorically speaking, just who is going to give these apprentices jobs after they have been trained? Two obstacles exist then, one to train the lads and two to get them jobs once they're trained. It really would be interesting to see what these three principle political figures had to say on the matter.
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Dave666 | 14 Apr 2010 6:23 pm
Interesting. Use Google to ascertain the perceived importance to the electorate of manufacturing.
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