Mr. TYSON WILSONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the manager of the Greenock Labour Exchange has brought a number of boys from the West Highlands to the lower reaches of the Clyde; that they have been apprenticed to certain trades in the shipyards there; that there were already in the immediate vicinity of those yards any number of lads ready and willing to become apprentices in those yards; and whether the imported lads are under the control and jurisdiction of the Congested Districts Board; and, if so, whether any public money is being used for their upkeep and maintenance?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Tennant)As I have stated in reply to previous questions, lads from the West Highlands have recently been apprenticed to shipbuilding firms on the Clyde through the medium of the Greenock Labour Exchange. No steps, however, were taken to approach these lads until every effort had been made without success to find suitable apprentices in the neighbourhood of the yards. I am informed that none of the boys referred to are in any way under the control of the Congested Districts Board.