The Department of Education and Children should be given control of external training for public servants, according to one of its members.

Lawrie Hooper (Liberal Vannin, Ramsey) called for a consistent training and financial assistance policy across all government departments.

’It would make sense that all professional further education, higher education, professional assistance, financial assistance, should be provided through the Department of Education to ensure a consistent and equitable approach to all public sector workers,’ he said.

Policy and Reform Minister Chris Thomas said all options were being considered.

’At the minute, the challenge laid down to the Department of Education and Children and the Department of Economic Development is actually to bring together professional courses and learning opportunities which they provide outside government - and I hope that the Department of Education and the DED will rise to that challenge.’

The issue arose after Mr Hooper’s LibVannin colleague Julie Edge (Onchan) tabled a question asking what was the policy for financial assistance for training of public servants.

Mr Thomas revealed there was no single policy. Government provided a ’comprehensive range’ of training options through the Office of Human Resources, including secondments and external courses.

These generic management, leadership and team training options were available to anyone working for government.

In addition, there specialist was provided in areas such as the income tax division, police and Manx Utilities Authority.

The minister added: ’Where staff are required by their department to attend a training course, require specific qualifications or undergo further education, the full cost of such training will generally be met by the department concerned, dependent on the departmental policy.

’It is usually only in relation to further education or professional qualifications involving external providers initiated by the individual where the onus is on the individual to meet the cost of training and where they might wish to seek financial assistance.

’The provision of such assistance will depend on the policies applicable within the department concerned and the individual’s terms and conditions of service.’

He added: ’Each year, government spends approximately £2 million on staff training, excluding the cost of any employees who design and deliver the training.

’There is no single policy on financial assistance or training applicable to the public service as a whole, but a number of separate arrangements which suit the needs of specific departments, service areas and employment groups.’