§ 3. Mr. RENDALLasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he can say what arrangements have been made as to the discharge of apprentices from the Army; will the time spent in the Army count as part of the term of apprenticeship or not; are the apprentices bound to return to their masters, and are the masters bound to receive them; and, if there are no regulations affecting this matter, will he consider the question of promulgating some?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Mr. Bridgeman)I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for West Down on the 4th instant, in which I stated that a Bill to deal with the matter was in course of preparation. As regards the legal position of apprentices who were under formal indentures, which have been interrupted by war service, I am advised that, generally speaking, the legal impossibility of performance during the period of military service has put an end to the contract.
§ Mr. RENDALLMay I ask if you are making any effort to secure for those apprentices the full training which they must have to enable them to work?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANWe shall do what we can to secure training.