1 felt that they received over-qualified applications 19 felt that they received applications from under experienced candidates. It does suggest that further research is needed to determine the real size of the long-term market in all three disciplines, and also the question of how this can best be met in terms of training provision. These are issues which must be looked at both by MLAC and by the Information Sector and Cultural Heritage National Training Organisations, in conjunction with the NCA and certain of its component members. The question is also raised by the survey about the viability of some of the short-term projects being funded, specifically in the Higher Education sector. If these are to succeed in recruiting staff, timing is of prime importance, and of course, if they succeed, it will simply move the problem to a different point in the chain.
Further work is needed in many areas, some of which have been touched on above.
Such posts were never matched in Scotland or the Higher Education sector, which are the areas that at the moment appear to have access to funds. These are just examples of the type of questions we need to be asking. It is to be hoped that both the Society of Archivists and NCA will find methods of encouraging the development of such research. With the current emphasis on both Heritage and Information industries in government thinking on economic development, we are surely strongly place to be arguing for such work on developing the employment potential of the sector. If you have any comments please contact Elizabeth Shepherd or Jonathan Draper .