§ 42. Sir WILLIAM DAVISONasked the Minister of Labour what was the result of the Ministry's scheme for the special training of ex-service men for work in the building trade?
§ Sir M. BARLOWI assume that my hon. Friend refers to the scheme for the training and employment of non-disabled ex-service men which was instituted by the late Government. I understand that, as a result of the continued depression in the building industry, it was found to be impossible to absorb more than a small proportion of the applicants for training under the scheme and that it was finally abandoned.
§ Sir W. DAVISONIs it not a fact that the real reason for the abandonment of this scheme for training ex-service men in the building trade was the opposition of the building trade unions?
§ Mr. SHINWELLIs it not the case that the attitude of the building operatives to this matter was very largely due to the fact of 100,000 building operatives being unemployed?
§ Lieut.-Commander ASTBURYAt that date, 1920, when application was made for 50,000 ex-service men to be absorbed into the building trade, was there not plenty of work for these men to do?