February, 1998

Westminster Report, IEE Review

It's easy to get 'typecast' or 'labelled' in the House of Commons and my engineering background is known a little more than my background in law and economics. Probably because there is no shortage of the latter in the House. So for that reason, I have chosen to serve on the Culture, Media & Sport Select Committee chaired by Gerald Kaufman. Normally the Committee investigates cultural issues ranging from the Millennium Dome to the possible preservation of HMS Cavalier - our last remaining second world war destroyer. Currently, however, we've gone hi-tech. Our current enquiry is investigating the future of audio and visual communication in the digital age. Witnesses have included satellite providers, broadcasters, British Telecom, and many other representatives of the industry. It is becoming clear, while not anticipating the content of our report (that would be a breach of Parliamentary Privilege!) that whether it is the internet or "The Archers" , all will be delivered through numerous media, but will all have digits in common. From a legislator's viewpoint the question arises: when material can be uplinked from any state to any state, is there a role for any legislation whether British or pan-European? Radios Normandy and Luxembourg provided popular programming from beyond British jurisdiction. The same will be possible from countries well beyond Europe's boundaries.

Meanwhile, away from Westminster, the Prime Minister continues to push the Millennium Dome in Greenwich as a feat of British engineering. The Government has encouraged the engineering industry to adopt a more environmentally friendly agenda and to promote younger people to opt for engineering careers. To emphasise that the engineering profession is part of the new "Cool Britannia", the Department for Trade and Industry have also set up four baby domes in Horseguards Parade which aim to show British design creativity, in which engineering design is well represented.

Engineering Minister John Battle, speaking to the Institute of Electrical Engineers in February, stressed that his Department expected to see the engineering profession make a major contribution to the debate on sustainable development. Referring to a report produced by the Institute for Chemical Engineers, the Minister urged the IEE to join the sustainability debate. Interestingly, he argued that youngsters were now more environmentally aware than ever before and would be attracted to the industry if they could see the role which engineering could play in improving the quality of life through greener solutions.

In a letter to the Commons Science and Technology Committee, John Battle - somewhat encouragingly - put flesh on the bone of the policy. The letter stated that the "Government is committed to a strong Scientific Engineering Base and to the maintenance of its international position of excellence, as an essential underpinning resource both to our national economic future and the quality of life...". Confirming the ongoing review of the Science Budget, Mr Battle agreed with the Committee's findings that Government Departments and Research Councils need to work closer together, and that Departments should inform Research Councils of their future research procurement plans and long term strategic aims.

Perhaps the most important development in recent weeks has been the pushing forward of the well-financed initiative - based around the 1997 'Year of Engineering Success' (YES), to promote engineering throughout the UK over the next five years. The DTI have put £500,000 towards the scheme and is expected to support the follow up programme. The aim is to win sponsorship from large and smaller size enterprises for the scheme which already has patronage from companies like BT, BP and British Aerospace.

In what was seen as a boost for training, the Government also laid the Draft Industrial Training Level Order before Parliament. This allows the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board and the Construction Industry Training Board to impose a levy on employers in their industries to finance their activities, including grant schemes and to fund their operating costs. Employment minister Kim Howells confirmed that the two boards had received Government recognition as the national training organisation for their sector. For the Conservatives, Employment Spokesman David Willetts, whilst making no objection in principle to the continuation of the schemes, urged a reduction in the amount of bureaucracy for a training grant.

Meanwhile, in the Commons, Shadow Trade and Industry Spokesman Tim Boswell has raised concerns felt by the Engineers Employers Federation over the National Minimum Wage Bill, particularly over the clause which gives powers to the Government by regulation to require employers to keep detailed employer records. This is considered to be very burdensome for smaller engineering companies and reverses the drive in the last Parliament to reduce red tape. On a more general level, according to a report from the Income Data Services, the engineering industry will emerge relative unscathed from the minimum wage as the profession has more vertical structures, with fewer staff in the bottom grade and much less likelihood of knock on effects.

The EEF outgoing President Dr Tony Scanlon again stressed that the level of the pound was doing considerable damage to British manufacturing industry, a point noted by Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish during a Lords debate on Economic and Monetary Union. This view was seconded by the Foundation for Manufacturing and Industry which suggested that the engineering would suffer more than manufacturing because of the pound's strength. Certainly their fears appear justified - the Engineering Employers Federation recently reported that export orders declined in each quarter last year.

Dr Scanlon will be pleased to know that Mr Battle confirmed in a Commons Written Answer that the Government were aware that engineering skill shortages existed in the West Midlands in particular sectors, notably automotive and construction. The Minister noted schemes like the engineering centre being developed at Sutton Coldfield College in conjunction with local employers which were doing much to improve the situation.

The new "Member for Engineering" Claire Curtis Thomas, (Labour MP for Crosby), has continued to represent the industry doughtily in the Commons, asking the Government if they had any plans to appoint a chief engineering adviser. Responding, Mr Battle stated that there already was a General Chief Scientific Adviser, although they relied on advice from bodies like the Engineering and Sciences Research Council.

In a similar vein, Helen Jones, Labour MP for Warrington North with close links to the MSF Trade Union, urged the Government to encourage more women to undertake more degrees in engineering and technology. In answer, Kim Howells said that the Government was doing all it could to encourage women to pursue engineering as a career and noted that the DTI will continue to support the work of WISE (Women in Science and Engineering), to further this aim.

In the Lords, Peers have also pushed engineering up the agenda, Lord Howie of Troon (a member of the Engineering Council) and Baroness Knight of Collingtree (formerly Dame Jill Knight, Tory MP for Birmingham Edgbaston) urged that engineering needs to be more carefully defined. Indeed, Baroness Knight proposed that the title of "engineer" be protected and be used to describe "chartered or incorporated engineers and engineering technicians".