§ 2. Sir M. Sueterasked the Minister of Labour whether, as there are 1,500,000 persons on the unemployed registers and at the same time a shortage of skilled labour in some trades, he will request the trades unions to assist him to select and arrange for the special training of suitable persons among the unemployed so as to meet the demand for skilled labour and thereby add to the numbers of wage earners?
§ Mr. ButlerI will bear my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion in mind.
§ Mr. Louis SmithSeeing that in a majority of trades, when employment is found for one skilled man, one or more unskilled men also find employment, does not my hon. Friend consider that a matter of paramount importance?
§ Mr. ButlerIt is clearly a question of paramount importance.
§ 15. Mr. Burkeasked the Minister of Labour under what conditions men previously employed as engineers are accepted under the Ministry's scheme for trainees, and specifically what age limit, if any, and/or period of absence from the trade is considered a barrier to acceptance?
§ Mr. ButlerThe admission of skilled engineering workers to Government training centres is ordinarily limited to men under 45 years of age who have served an apprenticeship of not less than four years or have had comparable workshop experience and who have not been absent from the industry for more than four years, and require a short course of training to become acquainted with modern processes.
§ Mr. BurkeCan the hon. Gentleman give an assurance that engineers who merely require a course of reconditioning to accustom them to modern methods will not be debarred because after that course as skilled craftsmen they would require full trade union rates of pay?
§ Mr. ButlerI will see that the hon. Member's point receives consideration.
§ Mr. McGovernIf the age is being limited to 45, will the hon. Gentleman impress on the Government the necessity of introducing old age pensions for these men?
§ Mr. ButlerIn my original answer I said that the age limit was ordinarily 45.