37. Captain COOTEasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that, although 109 duly certificated applications for training were submitted by the Cambridgeshire Local War Pensions Committee during the period September, 1919, to December, 1920, only 12 men have been placed in training; and what prospect there is of a more expeditious settling of these cases?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI am informed that of the 109 men to whom reference is made, no less than 54 failed to reply to a letter sent them in July, 1920, asking if they still required training. It was, therefore, assumed that they were not desirous of pursuing their former applications. The matter is now having my personal consideration, and I am hopeful that the reorganisation of the work of the Training Department last year is now resulting in a speeding-up of the rate with which those men are being placed in training. I would point out, however, that the present trade depression militates very gravely against the success of these schemes.
Captain COOTEIs my right hon. Friend aware that in the cases of non-reply to letters to which he has referred, only a fortnight was allowed in which to reply before they were disqualified?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI am not aware of that. I will make inquiries, because I think they should have longer notice than that.