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Addresses the questions of why adults seek training and what motivates them to learn. Provides guidelines for managers distilled from key sources. Also looks at the problem of motivating the transfer of training to the workplace. Sometimes it is difficult to motivate employees, first to accept training and then to have them use the training once they have returned to work.

Reports on the 1999 Manufacturing Week exhibition and in particular on the Automation, Production and Maintenance Equipment (APME) section. It highlights a number of assembly equipment vendors who increasingly are supplying flexible systems to meet the demand of smaller batch manufacture. A number of application examples are described, including assembly and test of weigh scales, a kettle base and a current sensor for white goods. Another prime technology identified is vision, which is becoming much more transparent in part‐feeding systems. Some vendors promoted the application of vision to robot guidance and an application is given of loading machining centres with several automotive castings delivered randomly on a fixtureless conveyor belt. Finally, a number of new transport systems introduced at the show are identified.

Those of us who have expressed the belief that there was a place for the airship alongside the jet, the helicopter and, indeed, the space ship have often been reviled as un‐practical dreamers, livers‐in‐the‐past, even lunatics. Well, now its our turn to say, “I told you so”.

For generations, Britain has had a household delivery of fresh milk; from the days before the Great War when it was delivered by a horse‐drawn milk float, with the roundsman often bringing the housewife to the door with his cries of “Milk‐O!”. The float had a churn and milk was delivered in a small can, served out by a dipper. This was the start of the distributive trade, organised between the Wars, from which the present industry has emerged. The trade gave universal acceptance to the glass bottle, returnable for household delivery, only the method of sealing has changed. There have been many demands for its abandonment in favour of the carton, of which recent years has seen a rise in its use in the increasing sales of milk by supermarkets and stores. Despite the problems with returnable vessels, the glass bottle has a number of advantages. The milk, including the cream line, is clearly visible, and short measure is most unlikely, which is a growing problem with carton‐filled milk. The number of prosecutions for short measure with cartons must be causing concern to trading standards departments. There is nothing to indicate the offence until the carton is opened.

Economists usually try to avoid making moral judgements, at least in their professional capacity. Positive economics is seen as a way of analysing economic problems, in as scientific a manner as is possible in human sciences. Economists are often reluctant to be prescriptive, most seeing their task as presenting information on the various options, but leaving the final choice, to the political decision taker. The view of many economists is that politicians can be held responsible for the morality of their actions when making decisions on economic matters, unlike unelected economic advisors, and therefore the latter should limit their role.

An overview of the various selection tools currently available for building a better jazz recording collection on compact disc. Evaluative guides, select discographies, general reference works, reviews in periodicals, and World Wide Web sites are suggested to aid in this process. Together, these resources can aid librarians and media selectors in building well‐rounded collections that cover different styles and movements of jazz over the last century, from the latest reissues of albums of historical importance to the best in contemporary recordings. The author concludes with a list of 30 (or so) sound recordings that should be found in any core jazz collection.

ALLAN RAMSAY'S The Gentle Shepherd is one of these dramas that few people nowadays have read or seen. True, the production in The Royal High School during two of the earlier Edinburgh Festivals drew the attention of many to this old favourite, and the charm of Ramsay's words and songs produced in the classic setting of the old High School hall is such a pleasant memory that a revival at some future Festival would be welcome.

During the past decade, the Regional Bell Operating Companies have been confronted with continuing deregulation and new internationalization opportunities. We suggest that their strategic moves regarding internationalization are linked to specific internal and external contingencies. A pooled time series approach is employed to analyze the effects of the composition of the board of directors (insiders versus outsiders), core business home regulatory environment, and core business growth on the respective internationalization strategies of these firms. A stringent regulatory environment was found to be significantly associated with increased internationalization. Contrary to expectations, inside board members were also significantly associated with increased internationalization. Theoretical explanations and management implications are discussed.

The Howard Shuttering Contractors case throws considerable light on the importance which the tribunals attach to warnings before dismissing an employee. In this case the tribunal took great pains to interpret the intention of the parties to the different site agreements, and it came to the conclusion that the agreed procedure was not followed. One other matter, which must be particularly noted by employers, is that where a final warning is required, this final warning must be “a warning”, and not the actual dismissal. So that where, for example, three warnings are to be given, the third must be a “warning”. It is after the employee has misconducted himself thereafter that the employer may dismiss.

This article examines the impact of the 1997‐2001 Labour Government’s public policy on British trade unions. First, the ideologies of New Labour and New Unionism are considered; second, the TUC’s relationship with the Government is discussed, by reference, one, to procedural and, two, to substantive interests; and, last, the value of the relationship to the trade unions will be assessed, by examining two of the four problem areas identified by Minkin as determining the unity of the Labour Movement, i.e. ideological compatibility and satisfaction of unions’ interests.