§ 30. Sir ROBERT NEWMANasked the Minister of Labour how many juvenile training centres have been established for boys and girls, respectively, in the mining areas; how many is it estimated will have to be established to accommodate all the boys and girls out of work in those districts; and whether the Government has arrived at any decision as to how many it is intended to establish?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDAt present in the distressed mining areas there are 26 juvenile unemployment centres for boys, accommodating over 3,000 boys at a time. Except in a few districts where the numbers available to attend do not warrant the establishment of a centre, or where a short waiting period is necessary pending the extension of accommodation, all boys at present registered as unemployed in these areas are already provided for, and it is hoped to maintain this position. Fares are paid where necessary to enable boys from outlying districts to attend. Unemployed girls of 16 years of age and over are provided for in the homecraft training centres of the Central Committee on Women's Training and Employment. There are 21 of these centres open at present in the distressed mining areas, accommodating over 300 girls at a time. The question of establishing juvenile unemployment centres for younger girls is being actively explored.