HC Deb 21 May 1946 vol 423 cc173-5
25. Mr. SWingler

asked the Secretary of State for War what schemes of technical education are now operating in the Army for the benefit of engineering apprentices who cannot be posted to technical corps, so that industrial skill and craftsmanship may be maintained and developed during military training.

Mr. Lawson

Engineering apprentices who are not posted to technical corps have the same opportunities for pre-vocational education under the Army Education Scheme as other soldiers. These opportunities may include classes and courses arranged by units and lower formations and attendance, when practicable, at the evening classes of local civilian Technical Institutes. For men in early release Groups residential courses of one month's duration in engineering subjects are available at formation colleges, and, by agreement with the Ministry of Labour, a limited amount of training in certain trades may be given where conditions make this practicable. Apprentices in the engineering industry are eligible at the end of their Army service for assistance under the Government's scheme for Apprenticeships Interrupted by War Service. Particulars of this scheme are given in a pamphlet of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.,

Mr. SWingler

Does the Minister realise that this Question refers to people like engineering apprentices who have just been called up where a large proportion are not being posted to technical corps? Will he state what special steps are being taken to see that the training and craftsmanship which these men have already acquired are maintained during the period they are in the Forces?

Mr. Lawson

As the House knows, we do our best, in the first place, to plant the apprentices, the men who are becoming skilled men, into the appropriate arm where they will exercise and develop their skill. The only thing we can do next to that—because we cannot place all these young men—is to keep them in touch with vocational classes and give them all the training that we can while they are in the Army, and then arrange for the completion of their apprenticeship after they leave.

Mr. Wilson Harris

Arising out of the reference to formation colleges, can the Minister say whether they are to remain a permanent feature of Army education?

Mr. Lawson

Yes, Sir; that is my plan, at any rate.

Mr. Mikardo

Will the Minister say whether there is an adequate supply of trained engineering teachers, and of plant and equipment to meet the rather comprehensive scheme which he has described to us?

Mr. Lawson

I would not say offhand that there are sufficient technical teachers outside of the technical branches of the Service.

26. Mr. SWingler

asked the Secretary of State for War what proportion of engineering apprentices who completed their courses in the primary training centres during the quarters ended 31st December, 1945, and 31st March, 1946, were posted to technical corps.

Mr. Lawson

I regret that the information asked for is not readily available and could not be obtained without a considerable amount of research. Although a central record is kept of all potential tradesmen not posted to Technical Corps, this includes many men who have not been engineering apprentices, and does not include men who stated that they had been engineering apprentices but who were considered unsuitable for employment in a trade or for training in one.

Mr. SWingler

Will the Minister give an assurance that he will investigate this situation where at least 75 per cent. of the men who have done three or four years' training in industry are going into the Forces and not being posted to technical corps but becoming sanitary orderlies and so on? Will he give an assurance that special steps are taken to see that these men will have a chance to maintain their skill while in the Forces?

Mr. Lawson

I can assure my hon. Friend that this matter has the deepest concern, not only of my Department. but of the Government generally.