Qualified Bermudians are not being given preference in the workplace, Opposition Senate Leader Milton Scott said yesterday.

He also claimed young people were being prevented from studying overseas through lack of funds.

His comments came during the Senate debate on the National Training Board Bill 1997.

The legislation -- introduced to the Upper House by Government Senator Yvette Swan -- repeals the Apprenticeship and Training Act 1971.

The Board would work with employers in setting up apprenticeship schemes, with successful trainees receiving certificates.

Government claims the Board will take over the role of the Apprenticeship and Training Council (ATC) and greatly enhance it, covering such areas as computer technology, clerical duties, administration and hotel work.

Among its proposed functions are to ensure: an adequate supply of trained manpower in occupations in all branches of economic activity; the quality and efficiency for training apprentices and trainees will be improved; certificates of efficiency will be handed out.

The Board will also probe contract disputes between apprentices and employers, help bosses provide on-the-job training and assist Bermudians in finding placements.

Sen. Swan said employment problems put a strain on financial services, led to increased crime and a waste of local talent.

"The National Training Board is a major initiative to expand the training capability of young people.

"The objective is to ensure Bermudians are trained and competent.'' Sen. Swan said Bermuda enjoyed a standard of living envied by most other countries.

But there was a segment of the population unable to find a job and participate fully in life.

"The National Training Board will meet these concerns.'' Sen. Swan said increased employment opportunities would provide economic, social and psychological benefits.

Government was committed to ensuring Bermudians could pursue their material and spiritual development.

It was also committed to checking the number of young people going astray.

Sen. Swan voiced concern at young people returning from overseas with unrecognised qualifications.

She urged youngsters and parents to make sure of the minimum qualifications for jobs.

Sen. Scott said there were a lot of unanswered questions about the National Training Board Bill.

To his mind, however, the legislation did not seem to be a "dramatic'' initiative in bringing young people into the job market.

He asked whether funding had been put in place for the Board and, if so, how much.

Sen. Scott also wondered whether the bill was simply a public relations exercise laying the groundwork for the next election.

He went on to accuse Government of giving conflicting signals over whether the legislation would be targeted at "wall sitters''.

Many people on the walls, said Sen. Scott, were victims of "broken dreams and broken promises''.

Sen. Scott claimed Bermuda had suffered from the closure of the Technical Institute.

There had been a decline in business studies and technical education at schools, he added.

Youngsters should be taught technical skills when they were 11, 12 or 13 -- not 18, 19 or 20.

Sen. Scott said he hoped the National Training board could be tied to the Senior Secondary schools and the Bermuda College.

Since CedarBridge Academy and the College had established high-tech facilities, he said, it would avoid the need to build new facilities for the scheme.

"These places have the facilities,'' he explained. "In the evenings our public schools are underutilised.'' Independent Senator Walwyn Hughes applauded the Act but pointed out that incentives for businesses to take part in the scheme was lacking.

"It won't work unless there is a lot of good will,'' he said. "A carrot and a big stick both seems to be missing here.'' UBP Sen. Lawrence Scott echoed Sen. Hughes' view that there appeared to be no incentives for employers to take in trainees.

And Sen. Scott predicted that once participants would fine their newly-obtained skills a "real treasure''.

"Blue collar training is something one should never be ashamed of,'' he stressed.

Independent Sen. Alf Oughton welcomed the plan but noted that standards had to be set to ensure that graduates' training would be recognised anywhere in the world.

"They should be able to go anywhere in the world and work,'' he said.

Sen. Oughton suggested that coordination be established between guidance counsellors and businesses to inform students, before they go abroad for school, what the employment prospects were like in a particular field.

He said this would avoid the problem of young people returning from school educated, but unable to find jobs.

Government Senate Leader Gary Pitman motioned for the debate to be continued during the next sitting of the Senate.

Senators passed legislation to reduce the amount of time new car owners spent at the Transport Control Department.

The Motor Car Amendment (No. 2) Act 1997 means new cars registered on or after January, 1993, need to be re-examined for licensing purposes only in their third and fifth year and every year thereafter.

Government Senator Larry Scott , introducing the bill, said he anticipated there would be similar legislation for auxiliary bikes.

YVETTE SWAN -- Senator said increased employment opportunities would provide economic, social and psychological benefits.