33. Mrs. DALTONasked the Minister of Labour the number of lads at present in training at the juvenile training centre in Bishop Auckland; and what proportion this number bears to the total number of unemployed lads of the same age in the area served by this centre?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDThe number of boys in attendance at the Bishop Auckland Juvenile Unemployment Centre during the week ended 16th February was 541. This number represents 83.6 per cent. of the boys registered for employment at the juvenile employment bureaux at Bishop Auckland, Spennymoor, Crook and Weardale.
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDSpeaking from memory, the ages are from 14 to 18, but I should like to verify that.
Mrs. DALTONWill the right hon. Gentleman consider providing larger and better equipped premises, which would give accommodation for all lads who are registered as unemployed, and also for many of those lads who are not registered and who are known to be unemployed?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDIt is quite obvious that the premises are likely to be sufficient in size for the district when 84 per cent. are already attending. That is a high percentage in any case of this kind. With regard to the accomodation of the other lads, that means an extension of the whole question of age, and it is a larger question which would need full consideration.