HC Deb 01 February 1945 vol 407 cc1621-2
40. Mr. Kenneth Lindsay

asked the Minister of Education what steps he is taking to work out joint schemes of training with industry and agriculture; what changes in secondary school curricula are contemplated pending the revision of nomenclature and abolition of fees in secondary schools on 1st April; and what arrangements he is making to relate choice of employment more closely to the work of schools and education authorities.

Mr. Butler

As this Question raises three separate issues and the answer is necessarily long, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Lindsay

Has my right hon. Friend given consideration to a transference of the functions of juvenile employment from the Ministry of Labour to the Ministry of Education, in view of the new Act?

Mr. Butler

My right hon. Friends the Ministers concerned and I have taken steps to establish a committee to look into a comprehensive juvenile employment service, and the whole question is under consideration. I hope the results will be satisfactory to my hon. Friend.

Mr. Lindsay

Will a statement be made?

Mr. Butler

When we are ready I shall have to make a statement on this important subject.

Mr. Henderson Stewart

Is the Scottish Education Department included?

Mr. Butler

I referred to my colleagues the Ministers concerned, and one is the Secretary of State for Scotland.

Following is the answer:

As regards the first part of the Question, officers of my Department, in conjunction with those of the Ministry of Labour and National Service, the Board of Trade and the Scottish Education Department, are engaged in a series of conferences with employers' and workers' organisations in a wide range of industries as to the recruitment and training of juvenile workers. Matters relating to training for agriculture are dealt with by two committees, one appointed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, and myself, to advise on all aspects of agricultural education to be provided by local education authorities, and the other appointed by my right hon. Friend to consider the character and extent of the need for higher agricultural education. Both these committees include representatives of employers and workers. As regards the second part of the Question, I propose to issue shortly general guidance for the use of authorities and others on the aims of the different types of secondary schools.

As regards the third part of the Question:—Following a meeting which my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service, the Secretary of State for Scotland and I had with representatives of the associations of local education authorities in England and Wales and Scotland, a committee has been set up to consider the measures necessary to establish a comprehensive juvenile employment service.

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