HC Deb 13 July 1937 vol 326 cc1026-8
3. Sir N. Grattan-Doyle

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the desirability of encouraging recruiting and of the work already done by the Army vocational training centres, he will reconsider the decision to close them, and to transfer the training of men approaching the termination of their Army engagement to the centres of the Ministry of Labour?

Mr. Hore-Belisha

The purpose of the decision referred to by my hon. Friend, and announced in connection with Army Estimates, is to enable all soldiers on leaving the Army to receive vocational training, if they wish to, instead of confining it to the limited numbers who can now receive such training in Army vocational training centres.

Mr. Anstruther-Gray

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in the Ministry of Labour training centres an old soldier with seven years' service receives no preference over an unemployed man who has not served his country, and that this is disappointing, and does not help recruiting?

Mr. Hore-Belisha

This is the first question of the kind that has been addressed to me since I became Secretary of State for War, but when my predecessor announced his decision it was extremely well received in the House.

Mr. George Griffiths

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that during the War there were thousands of miners who could not go though they wanted to go? Are they to be marked out because of these chaps?

Mr. Gallacher

Would there be any Army if there were not men in the workshops to keep the Army going?

5. Mr. Liddall

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the Labour Ministry's training centres are disliked by soldiers; and will he arrange that the Aldershot, Leeds and Southampton Army vocational centres shall offer to train men leaving the Army and the Navy as chefs and as skilled workers for the catering trades and private houses, to enable them to fill the well-paid permanent situations awaiting them in civilian life?

Mr. Hore-Belisha

The training centres at Leeds and Southampton are administered by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour, to whose attention I am bringing my hon. Friend's suggestions for extended training facilities. There are no facilities for training chefs at Aldershot.

Mr. J. J. Davidson

Will the Minister engage the services of Scotland Yard to fill the well-paid jobs in the catering industry?

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