§ 28. Sir KINGSLEY WOODasked the Minister of Health whether he can state the arrangements he has made concerning the facilities to be given whereby bricklayers' labourers may rapidly become fully-fledged craftsmen; and whether the trade unions concerned are a party to any such arrangements?
§ Mr. WHEATLEYThe National House Building Committee, on which both employers and operatives are represented, propose in their Report to give special consideration in the development of their apprenticeship scheme to applicants such as building trade labourers who have had previous experience of the building trade.
§ Sir K. WOODDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think this matter is being left in a very vague way; does he not think it desirable to approach the building trade again in the matter?
§ Mr. WHEATLEYNo, I do not think so.
§ Sir WILLIAM DAVISONIs it not a fact that the London County Council had a scheme on hand for the employment of skilled labourers to teach them bricklaying, before the right hon. Gentleman introduced his Bill; and what has happened to that scheme?
§ Mr. WHEATLEYI am afraid that is a matter for the London County Council.
§ 29. Sir K. WOODasked the Minister of Health whether he can now make a statement as to the arrangements he has made with the educational authorities for the training of apprentice bricklayers; whether the period of apprenticeship will be thereby curtailed; and whether he can give any estimate of the number of returned emigrants that may be expected to return to the building industry during the next 12 months?
§ Mr. WHEATLEYI am not yet in a position to make a statement as to arrangements with educational authorities. It is obviously impossible to frame any estimate of the number of emigrants likely to return within the next 12 months.
§ Sir K. WOODDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think this also leaves it in a very vague way? Is it not time to approach the building trade in the matter?
§ Mr. WHEATLEYI am not in a position to make a statement.