§ 13. Mr. LOGANasked the Minister of Labour what arrangements have been made with the Liverpool Employment Exchanges whereby a trainee on completion of four years' service can mutually agree with his employer upon terms of wages to be paid; and whether this arrangement is working satisfactorily?
§ 11. Mr. KIRBYasked the Minister of Labour the reasons for the issue of special instructions to the manager of the Liverpool Employment Exchange by the north-western divisional controller, having for their object special efforts to 1344 secure trainees in an extended range of employments on the understanding that such trainees will be assisted in finding employment, at wages to be settled between the employer and the trainee, regardless of prevailing trade union rates and conditions?
§ 14. Mr. GIBBINSasked the Minister of Labour whether it is upon his instructions or authority that the Liverpool Employment Exchange are now extending the system of training to a number of occupations, including the distributive trades, guaranteeing to find the trainees work when training is completed, the wages and conditions to be negotiated between the trainee and the employer?
§ 15. Mr. W. A. ROBINSONasked the Minister of Labour whether it is in accordance with his instructions that the divisional controller in the north-western area has authorised the Liverpool manager to proceed with the enrolment of trainees in all manner of trades; and when these men finish their training at approximately 80 per cent. of efficiency, as compared to fully-trained craftsmen, what arrangements will be made to place them in industry with due regard to established trade union agreements?
§ Mr. E. BROWNThe instructions to which the hon. Members refer arise from the decision to extend to unemployed men in the Merseyside area the opportunities for obtaining training in a Government training centre. In view of the continuance of heavy unemployment in this area, I decided that such opportunities should no longer be withheld from these men. The arrangements are the same as those which have applied in other areas for a good many years, and, I may mention, do not include the distributive trades. They will, I hope, have the result of giving to some unemployed men from the Merseyside an opportunity to gain a footing in some occupations in which there is an expanding demand for labour. I might add that since the end of February last, when training facilities were first extended to Merseyside, over 500 men from that area have availed themselves of the opportunity for training thus afforded them.
§ Mr. LOGANDo I gather that this is not a question of dilution to jeopardise the position of trade unionists in these occupations?
§ Mr. BROWNCertainly not, Sir. This is an attempt to put peroration into practice and to provide work for the workless.
§ Mr. ELLIS SMITHCan the Minister inform the House what trades require the bringing about of an expanding demand for skilled operatives?
§ Mr. BUCHANANWill the right hon. Gentleman see to it that, as far as possible, the scheme is made voluntary, and not a primary condition for benefit?
§ Mr. BROWNThat is a misapprehension. The thing is entirely voluntary. I have no means whatever of compelling them to go to training centres. The opportunity is there; it is a very fine opportunity. They get the aptitude they have not had before, and, therefore, a finer chance to get work, and we intend to do all that we can to help them.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODWill the right hon. Gentleman see to it that these trainees are not used in order to reduce the standard of life of skilled men?
§ Mr. BROWNI am certainly fully prepared to discuss with hon. Members any question they may have in mind concerning conditions at any time.
§ Mr. GEORGE GRIFFITHSWill the Minister give us the assurance that these trainees will not go into the expanding industry of mining?
§ Mr. MESSERWill the Minister give his attention to the answer which he has given in relation to the complaint made in reference to Briggs Bodies, Limited, of Dagenham?