§ 8. Captain HEILGERSasked the Minister of Labour the number of residential training centres for unemployed men now in operation; the approximate number of men attending these centres; and the percentage of men for whom employment is found on leaving the centres?
Mr. HUDSONThere are nine residential instructional centres now in operation with 1,718 men in attendance at the end of April. In addition, five residential summer camps with a capacity of 750 places will be opened during May. As was explained in the reply given to the hon. Member for Gower (Mr. D. Grenfell) on 16th March last, attendance at these centres is no longer limited to the numbers for which employment is likely to be available at the end of the course, but of the men who completed courses during the first quarter of this year, 16.5 per cent. were either placed in or found employment.
§ Captain HEILGERSCan my hon. Friend say if any increase in the number of training centres is contemplated?
Mr. HUDSONYes, Sir. The increase which I have stated. It is proposed to open residential summer camps.
§ Mr. LAWSONHow many camps are there to be, and how long will they last?
Mr. HUDSONThe provision of residential summer camps is an experiment, and we are opening five this summer to see how they work. The period of opening will very largely depend on the weather, but we hope that the weather will be propitious and that we shall be able to keep them open until late in the year.
§ Mr. DAVID GRENFELLCan the hon. Member inform the House whether one of the training camps is to be provided in Wales?
§ Mr. GRENFELLI gave notice some time ago, and I was promised a reply. I put a question.