§ 56. Major PRICEasked the Minister of Labour whether the Government's scheme for the training, transference, and migration of unemployed workers will be available for all unemployed workers, or will it be confined to unemployed workers in mining areas; and whether be will consider the opening of a training centre at Pembroke Dockyard, where accommodation is available?
§ Mr. BETTERTONThe general scheme of training, transference, and migration is not confined to unemployed workers in the mining areas. Unemployed workers at Pembroke Dockyard are fully eligible for training at the existing training centres, either for work in this country or for migration overseas. My right hon. Friend does not see his way, as at present advised, to establishing an additional training centre at Pembroke Dock.
§ Major PRICEIs the hon. Gentleman aware that facilities are there, without any expense in regard to housing accommodation and sheds and so forth?
§ Mr. BETTERTONYes, I am aware of those facilities at Pembroke. If, and when, the occasion should arise for setting up another centre, no doubt they will be considered; as I have said, however, my right hon. Friend, as at present advised, does not propose to set up another centre.
§ Major PRICEIs the hon. Gentleman able to say what would constitute an occasion for taking such action, in view of the number of distressed people there are at the present time?
§ Mr. BETTERTONAll considerations are taken into account by my right hon. Friend when he is considering the whole matter.
§ Mr. SHINWELLIs the hon. Gentleman aware that yesterday his right hon. Friend, in reply to a question, said that there were many districts to which the industrial transfer scheme did not apply, notwithstanding the fact that they were distressed areas with considerable unemployment? What is the basis upon which the scheme can be made applicable?
§ Mr. BETTERTONI cannot go into that matter, which is not relevant, to the question on the Paper, but perhaps the hon. Member will have an opportunity of raising it in the course of to-day's Debate.
§ 57. Mr. LONGBOTTOMasked the Minister of Labour the number of training centres at present in the mining areas of South Wales, Durham and Yorkshire, together with the number of persons in attendance for the past three months in the following age groups: 15–16, 16–17 and 17–18; and what percentage these form of the total number of unemployed persons in similar age groups in these areas?
§ Mr. BETTERTONAs the answer is necessarily long and detailed, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. LUNNIn view of the exploits of a certain lady in Yorkshire in regard to a training establishment, will the Ministry take steps to set up one in Yorkshire, in view of the interest which there is in the West Riding in training establishments and the need for one there?
§ Mr. BETTERTONThis is really, as applied to Yorkshire, the same question as that which I have just answered in regard to Pembroke. No doubt my right hon. Friend will consider all these matters when he is considering the whole question.
§ Mr. W. PALINGWill the hon. Gentleman say whether or not there is one in Yorkshire at the present time?
§ Mr. BETTERTONDoes the hon. Member refer to training centres?
§ Mr. PALINGYes.
§ Mr. BETTERTONNo, I think there is not one.
§ Following is the reply:
§ "There are at present 24 juvenile unemployment centres (23 for boys and one for, girls) in the mining areas of South Wales and Durham. There are no such centres in the Yorkshire mining area. The average daily attendance at these centres of all boys and girls between the ages of 14 and 18 has for the past three months been 2,589. No separate figures are available for each age group, nor is it possible to give the information requested in the last part of the question. The number of training centres for women in the mining areas mentioned is 14, of which nine are in South Wales and five in Durham. There are no centres in the mining areas of Yorkshire. The average daily attendance at these centres during the past three months was 243. With regard to the age groups, girls under the age of 16 are not normally admitted to the centres, but at the present time there is one under that age in training. Between the ages of 16 and 18 the average daily attendance in South Wales in 149 and in Durham 93.