§ 24. Mr. W. R. SMITHasked the Minister of Labour whether any record is kept of the sailors and soldiers that have been trained in boot and shoe making who have been placed in situations and of those who have been unable to obtain the same, and whether he will give the figures appertaining thereto; and, if no 2186 such record has been kept, whether he will arrange for this to be done in future?
§ Sir R. HORNEAs the course of training in boot and shoe making involves the placing of men as improvers with private employers for the latter part of their training, the question of finding situations at the termination of training does not as a rule arise. In certain cases delays and difficulties arise in finding "improver" vacancies on the termination of the period of training in an institution, but these are normally overcome by the action of the local technical advisory committees, who give special attention to the finding of such vacancies for the men. Steps are being taken to obtain records of cases where improvers' vacancies are not available.
§ Mr. SMITHMay I ask whether their training as improvers with private firms is merely part of the scheme of training and can the right hon. Gentleman say how many men whoso training has been completed have been placed in employment and are at work? Is it not the fact that part of the recommendation of the Committee for the establishment of the scheme was that more men should not be trained than could reasonably be placed in vacancies?
§ Sir R. HORNEIt was certainly part of the scheme that no more men should be trained than could be placed. That matter is controlled by the Local Technical Advisory Committees which contain representatives both of employers and employed. Up till now we have not had the experience of failing to find men positions at the end of their improvers' course after the technical training.
§ 29. Mr. FORRESTasked the Minister of Labour how many ex-service men have in all applied for industrial training; and how many hitherto are actually being trained?
§ Sir R. HORNEThe number of ex-service men who are now known to be awaiting industrial training is approximately 27,500. The number of those actually receiving industrial training is 19,514.
§ Major LLOYD-GREAMEHave facilities been given to suitable persons to obtain the necessary factories wherever possible in accordance with the Committee's recommendations?
§ Sir R. HORNEWe are as rapidly as possible acquiring as many factories as we can use. There has been delay which I much regret, but we are expediting matters as much as possible at the present time.
§ 30. Mr. FORRESTasked the Minister of Labour if he will state in detail the numbers of ex-service men whose training has been sanctioned by the various unions represented at the Trades Union Congress of 1919, and at the same time indicate how many of these ex-service men have actually commenced their training?
§ Sir R. HORNEThe bodies responsible for deciding the number of ex-service men who may be admitted to training in the organised trades are not the Unions represented at the Trades Union Congress, but Local Technical Advisory Committees, representing the local organisations of employers and workpeople in most of the chief staple trades of the country. The great majority of the 19,500 men now under training have been "admitted by Local Technical Advisory Committees.
§ Major LLOYD GREAMEDocs that answer apply to the building trade?
§ Sir R. HORNEYes, it applies also to the building trade. There is a Local Technical Advisory Committee which sits on the matter, and there is also a Building Trades Council which has been dealing with part of the question in order to put a large number into training for the trade.
§ Major LLOYD-GREAMEDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think it is essential that some further pressure, outside that of employers and employed in the building trade, should be enforced in order to open the ranks of the trade to discharged service men?
§ Sir R. HORNEYes, I entirely agree with the suggestion made in the question of my hon. and gallant Friend. So far as training is concerned we have been met to a very great extent by the building trade, but so far as getting discharged men into the trade goes there has been a very definite refusal, and I hope that public pressure will be brought to bear on this matter.
36. Major DAVID DAVIESasked the Minister of Labour if he can arrange for approved societies to be notified when any of their members undergo a period of training under the Ministry of Labour?
§ Sir R. HORNEThe necessary instructions have recently been issued to ensure the notification to the approved societies of all insured persons receiving training allowances.