§ 5. Mrs. TATEasked the Minister of Labour whether, after the passing of the Unemployment Insurance Bill, training centres and transfer instructional centres at present controlled by the Ministry of Labour will be placed under the control of the Unemployment Assistant Board in conjunction with local authorities?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONAs my hon. Friend probably knows, the Unemployment Bill will enable training courses for persons over the age of 18 to be provided by the Minister of Labour or by the Unemployment Assistance Board with the approval of the Minister. I am unable at present to say what may be found to be the best method of co-ordinating these arrangements, and obviously this cannot be decided until the board can be consulted.
§ Mr. LAWSONWill the right hon. Gentleman see to it that the whole of the training centres are brought more directly under the control of the Minister of Labour, and thus under the more direct control of Parliament?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI cannot add to the answer that I have given. I have said that the training courses will be provided by the Minister of Labour or by the Unemployment Assistance Board with the approval of the Minister. Until the board is set up, I cannot give any further answer than I have given.
§ Mrs. TATECan the right hon. Gentleman give me an assurance that, where such training centres exist in congested areas just outside London, he will arrange that a certain percentage of local unemployed are allowed to enter them and that they shall not be retained only for men in the distressed areas?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI have that point very much in mind, and I hope I shall be able to do something in that direction.