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Saturday 22 November 2008
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Electronics skills shortage a focus for House of Commons
by Bill Jacobs
Wednesday 23 January 2008
The first major inquiry by the new Innovation, Universities and Skills Committee of the House of the Commons will be into engineering - with a sharp focus on electronics.
The investigation, expected to start in the early Spring, will look at the engineering sector but the role of electronic engineers in industry and research and how to improve training and boost the numbers coming through the education system will be a major part of its deliberations.
The chairman of the all-party group Phil Willis told Electronics Weekly: “We have agreed that our first major enquiry will be into engineering. Electronics will be a major focus of our investigations.”
Last year Electronics Weekly revealed the new IUS Committee would be giving a particular emphasis on examining the performance and future of the sector.
IUS Secretary of State John Denham is expected to be called as the relevant Cabinet Minister to give evidence on behalf of the Government.
Liberal Democrat MP Mr Willis said: “Engineering is essential to industry as a whole and electronics is vital to engineering. Everything from bio-sciences to construction needs engineers and electronic engineers and industry is telling us there just aren’t enough of them.”
He added that the committee has heard there are not going to be enough engineers and electronics experts to build the next generation of nuclear power stations for the UK.
“The whole question of education, training and qualifications will be crucial to the enquiry,” said Willis.
Senior committee member, Labour MP Dr Ian Gibson said: “I am absolutely delighted. I told the magazine last year that electronics would be a major focus of the new committees work.”
“Engineering - and electronic engineering in particular - are now vital to industry and the economy. One crucial question is what the Government is doing - and can do in the future to boost the electronics and engineering sectors,” said Gibson.
The investigation, expected to start in the early Spring, will look at the engineering sector but the role of electronic engineers in industry and research and how to improve training and boost the numbers coming through the education system will be a major part of its deliberations.
The chairman of the all-party group Phil Willis told Electronics Weekly: “We have agreed that our first major enquiry will be into engineering. Electronics will be a major focus of our investigations.”
Last year Electronics Weekly revealed the new IUS Committee would be giving a particular emphasis on examining the performance and future of the sector.
IUS Secretary of State John Denham is expected to be called as the relevant Cabinet Minister to give evidence on behalf of the Government.
Liberal Democrat MP Mr Willis said: “Engineering is essential to industry as a whole and electronics is vital to engineering. Everything from bio-sciences to construction needs engineers and electronic engineers and industry is telling us there just aren’t enough of them.”
He added that the committee has heard there are not going to be enough engineers and electronics experts to build the next generation of nuclear power stations for the UK.
“The whole question of education, training and qualifications will be crucial to the enquiry,” said Willis.
Senior committee member, Labour MP Dr Ian Gibson said: “I am absolutely delighted. I told the magazine last year that electronics would be a major focus of the new committees work.”
“Engineering - and electronic engineering in particular - are now vital to industry and the economy. One crucial question is what the Government is doing - and can do in the future to boost the electronics and engineering sectors,” said Gibson.
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