HC Deb 01 August 1923 vol 167 cc1459-61
37. Captain BOWYER

asked the Minister of Labour why 15,009 ex-service men have been removed from the waiting list without having been trained; how many were removed at their own request; and what are the detailed reasons for the rmoval of the rest?

Mr. BETTERTON

Men have been removed from the waiting list because they no longer desired training, or were found on medical examination to be fit to return to their former occupation, or have been awarded civil liabilities grants in preference to training, or had died or left the country, or, in a few cases, because they were incapable of being trained for a skilled occupation. I regret that I cannot give the numbers removed for any particular cause without a detailed examination of all the cases.

pose of the compilation of his cost-of-living index are taken in respect of British beef to-day; and what were the retail prices taken in January, February, March, April, and May in the years 1922 and 1923?

Mr. BETTERTON

As the reply to this-question involves columns of figures, I propose, with the hon. Member's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following are the figures promised:

Mr. F. GRAY

Is it not the fact that a large number of these men who have been trained have not been provided with employment, and may not that have some bearing upon the matter?

Captain BOWYER

Have the grants that have been given from the Civil Liabilities Fund, in these cases where it has been given, been adequate to recompense the men for foregoing the training which they had been promised?

Mr. BETTERTON

Obviously, I have not particulars of cases with me now.

38. Captain BOWYER

asked the Minister of Labour how many men have been transferred from concurrent treatment and training to the industrial training scheme, but have not been trained thereunder; and how many of such men have been offered and given a grant instead of training?

Mr. BETTERTON

Since 1st January, 1922, 1,743 men on leaving convalescent centres have been accepted by the Ministry of Labour for industrial training. The great majority have already been placed in training, but I cannot give precise numbers without detailed local inquiries. In addition, about 200 men have been awarded civil liability grants in preference to training.