VOCATIONAL CENTRES. (Hansard, 23 June 1938)

§ 4. Mr. Messer
asked the Minister of Labour whether the taking over of the activities of the Army vocational centres by his Department means that the staffs of the Aldershot, Hounslow and Chisledon centres will be taken over; whether there will be any exceptions; and, if so, what provision is being made for the men affected?

§ Mr. E. Brown
Posts have been offered by my Department or the War Department to nearly all the staff at these three centres. At the moment, it has not been possible to offer alternative employment to three instructors at Aldershot, and a number of cooks and mess orderlies at Hounslow, but efforts by the two Departments are continuing.

§ Mr. Messer
I take it that that means that every improvement will be made?

§ Mr. Brown
Oh, yes, we shall do all we can; the hon. Gentleman can be quite content about it.

§ Mr. Lawson
Do I understand that it is a definite promise that these men are to be taken over by the Ministry of Labour?

§ Mr. Brown
I would not say "by the Ministry of Labour," but we shall see that they are employed.

§ Mr. Lawson
Will some of these men be lowered in their status and in the amounts they receive if they are taken over by the Ministry?

§ Mr. Brown
That is another question, which I would prefer to see on the Paper.