HC Deb 01 February 1938 vol 331 cc174-5

11.3 p.m.

Mr. Allan Chapman

I beg to move, in page 3, line 42, after "employment," to insert, "or is undergoing training."

In the past it has been understood that the word "employment" covered the term "or is undergoing training." That is still the point of view held by the Ministry, and therefore the words of the Amendment merely regularise the position that exists.

11.4 p.m.

The Solicitor-General for Scotland

The proposed words are in our view unnecessary and might be misleading. As was pointed out by my right hon. Friend in connection with the English section of the Bill, there is a vital difference between a person who is employed and a person who is undergoing training. A person who is employed is ordinarily resident in the place where he is employed and not in the place where he used to be before he was employed, whereas a person who is undergoing training is by reason of the short period of the training still all the time ordinarily resident in the place from which he came, and never becomes ordinarily resident in the place where he is undergoing training. Accordingly, it is unnecessary to insert these words, because a person who is undergoing training remains ordinarily resident where he came from. It might be dangerous to insert these words. I am informed that in every case where people are sent from one area to another for training it is done under an elaborate agreement under which the education authority becomes bound to guarantee their expenses. It is not desirable that this arrangement which has worked so well should in any way be altered, and if we were to put in these words it might indicate an intention of altering the existing arrangements. I hope the hon. Member will agree that the words are unnecessary.

Mr. Chapman

Can the hon. and learned Member give an assurance that a trainee will be interpreted as being employed in this particular case?

The Solicitor-General for Scotland

I indicated that far from a trainee being regarded as employed he is quite different from an employed person, and that this difference makes it impossible to accept these words.

11.7 p.m.

Mr. Westwood

If the Solicitor-General had given any other explanation I can assure him that we should have divided the Committee on this proposal. I accept his explanation that a trainee is in a different position from a person who is employed. I also accept his statement that the education authority is responsible for his training and education when he is a trainee, and consequently they have the responsibility of maintaining the individual as long as he is training, but not when he becomes an employed person. I am satisfied with the explanation given by the Solicitor-General.

Mr. Chapman

In view of the explanation, I beg to ask leave to withdraw the Amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Clause ordered to stand part of the Bill.