HC Deb 19 March 1918 vol 104 cc798-9
28. Sir HENRY HARRIS

asked the Pensions Minister whether the failure on the part of the Ministry of Pensions to issue to local war pensions committees any instructions with regard to the training of discharged sailors and soldiers for branches of the electrical trade is due to the fact that the representatives of employers and employed in this trade have not yet agreed as to the conditions under which it is desirable to train discharged men for electrical work; and whether he recommends local war pensions committees to train men for this trade peniding an agreement being arrived at between the representatives of the trade?

Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWEN

The Trade Advisory Committee appointed for this trade by the Minister of Labour in conjunction with the Minister of Pensions have had under consideration the question of training disabled sailors, and soldiers in the electrical engineering trades, and the representatives of the associations of employers and of workpeople have just completed their recommendations in regard to dynamo and motor manufacture and cable manufacture. These proposals are about to be considered by the two Departments. Schemes in regard to other branches of these trades are now being dealt with by the Trade Advisory Committee. In the meantime local war pensions committees have been recommended to proceed with schemes of training conditional upon their being brought into line with the recommendations of the Trade Advisory Committee when approved and issued.

Mr. PRINGLE

Can the hon. Gentleman say when these recommendations of the Trade Advisory Committee are likely to be approved?

Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWEN

I cannot say for certain. Negotiations have to proceed first of all between representatives of employers and workpeople, and the proposals then have to be submitted to the two Ministries, but I can assure my hon. Friend that there will be no undue delay.

Sir H. HARRIS

Have not these negotiations been proceeding for many months without any result?

Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWEN

Yes; but some of these negotiations are very difficult. I hope that they will lead to satisfactory results.