§ Brigadier-General CROFTasked the Minister of Labour (1) whether the discharged soldiers and sailors in the electrical training class at Winchester, which commenced under the Ministry of Pensions on 18th June, 1919, were assured that after six months technical work they would be placed out with electrical firms to complete their training in practical work, the Government supplementing wages to a living wage; (2) whether the discharged soldiers and sailors in the electrical training class at Winchester, which commenced training in Juno, 1919, continued till the end of January, 1920, without any tools or material to work upon; whether an offer was made by the Ministry of Labour to one man applying to be placed out with a firm that he could do so if he could find a firm to take him: and whether, having found a firm who are prepared to employ him on a training scheme, the Ministry of Labour inform the firm of electrical engineers that they may take the man till 10th April, 1920, at the rate of 5s. per week, but after that date they sever connection with the training class?
§ Sir R. HORNENo clas for training ex-service men in electrical work of any kind exists at Winchester, but probably the class at Bournemouth is the one which the hon. and gallant Member has in mind. I am aware that some delay occurred in supplying adequate equipment for this class, and on that account its duration has, as an interim measure, been extended2038W from the ordinary period of six to nine months. So far as I am aware, however, no assurance was given to the men by any officer of this Department that upon the conclusion of six months' instruction in the technical school they would be placed out with private firms to continue their training. I understand that, in fact, one of the men concerned did request to be allowed to transfer training with a private employer, and this was agreed to on condition that he would be paid a wage of not less than 5s. a week. It would have been obviously unreasonable in such a case to extend the period of training beyond that granted to other members of the class. The standard course in electrical wiring is of six months' duration, and it would appear that some confusion has arisen between this course and courses under the terms of the schemes jointly agreed by the Government and the trade for training in the electricity power and light industries. Inquiries are being made whether any assurance of the nature referred to was given to the men by the War Pensions Committee concerned.