SHADOW Employment Minister Peter Hain dropped in on students at Horwich College during a campaigning visit to the region.

Mr Hain, accompanied by Ruth Kelly, Labour's prospective parliamentary candidate for Bolton West, chatted to trainees as he toured the college's motor vehicle workshops.

They included a group of hearing impaired students who attend courses twice a week.

Mr Hain said he was impressed by what he saw, praising the college's facilities and the opportunities they afforded trainees. He said a future Labour Government intended to build on what was there and establish a framework for training, which he said was absent at the moment.

He added: "A number of training institutions are more concerned about numbers rather than high quality training which leads to a job, and this is one of the things we shall be looking at."

Ms Kelly added that Labour's aim was to get a quarter of a million young people, under the age of 25, in jobs and high quality training. The Horwich campus boasts three workshops and offers courses in motor vehicle repair, car maintenance, fabrication and welding.

There are about 80 full time students as well as day release trainees and various short courses and evening classes.

There are a number of specialist courses operated for various local companies, who often have their own instructors but use college facilities.

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