53. Lieut.-Colonel GUINNESSasked the Prime Minister whether he will appoint a committee to report what steps are necessary to attract into the building trade apprentices in sufficient numbers to enable it to meet present and future demands for skilled labour?
§ The MINISTER of LABOUR (Sir Robert Horne)The Resettlement Committee of the Industrial Council for the Building Industry appointed by the Ministry of Labour has recently had under consideration the matter raised in the hon. Member's question. The Committee presented an Interim Report in February, which states with regard to apprentices that there still exists a considerable discrepancy between the number 1532 of apprentices who may be engaged under the existing joint working agreements between the unions and employers, and the number who are in fact already employed. The Committee have recommended, therefore, that an appeal should be made to employers to employ the full quota of apprentices allowed under existing arrangements, and to provide them with such intensive training as will speedily make them of economic value to the industry. This Report, which has just been received, is receiving my careful consideration.
Lieut.-Colonel GUINNESSWill the Government shortly be able to bring forward a definite policy to deal with this matter?
§ Mr. J. DAVISONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the statistical table, which has been prepared and presented to the public by the secretary of the building operatives in this country, in which he offered to provide the whole of the labour necessary for the building of the houses year by year?
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEWill the right hon. Gentleman take such steps as will secure to these apprentices coming back from the War the possibility of completing their term of apprenticeship?
Lieut.-Colonel GUINNESSIs it not a fact that these apprentices who have served in the War cannot live on the money they earn as apprentices, and that unless the Government comes in with a comprehensive scheme it is impossible to make up the shortage?
§ Sir R. HORNEThe hon. and gallant Member is surely unaware of what has taken place. There is an existing comprehensive scheme under which the Government docs make up for this particular purpose to within a shilling or two of a journeyman's pay.
Lieut.-Colonel GUINNESSDoes not that apply only to those who commenced their apprenticeship before the War, and not to the men who missed their terms during the War?
§ Sir R. HORNEIt applies to and is to provide for those who commenced their apprenticeship and wish to complete it.