HC Deb 23 March 1927 vol 204 cc390-1
32. Viscount SANDON (for Major RUGGLES-BRISE)

asked the Minister of Labour if his attention has been called to the Returns submitted to the House last month which show that in 1926 the two training farms in East Anglia operated by the Minister of Labour trained for migration to the King's Dominions overseas 115 young men at a cost, exclusive of capital charges, of 50s. and 53s. per head per week, and that the Salvation Army, at its training college at Hadleigh, Essex, trained 923 youths at a cost of 30s. per head per week; whether, having regard to the state of unemployment in this country and the unsatisfied demands there are in the overseas Dominions for such trained men and the fact that the Salvation Army, for financial reasons only, is compelled in the coming year to curtail its activities in this branch of work, he will take the necessary steps to see that this service is utilised to its full capacity?

Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

I doubt if the estimates of cost quoted in the question can safely be compared, as the ages of the trainees and the extent of the training given are different. There are no funds at the disposal of my Department out of which assistance could be given to the Salvation Army farm, but I understand that a contribution towards the cost of training, which will shortly be raised to one-half of 30s., namely, 15s. a week, is made by the Oversea Settlement Department.

Sir JOHN MARRIOTT

Is any portion of these fees paid by the trainees recoverable when they migrate?

Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

I cannot give an answer off-hand, but I will make inquiries.

Sir J. MARRIOTT

Have all these trainees migrated, or will they be migrated?

Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

For the labour training farms I have given the figures in previous answers. The greater part of those who have been trained have migrated, but they have not all been trained for overseas.

Mr. T. WILLIAMS

Are the numbers now being trained as many as at this time last year, or less?

Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

I think at the establishments which were open last year there are as many being trained now as before. Arrangements have been made to shorten the course at one of the training establishments, which means that more will pass through in the course of a year.