§ 48. Mr. Sidney Shephardasked the Minister of Labour how many ex-Servicemen, who have applied to undertake a vocational training course, are still waiting 594 to be called after a period of six months, nine months and 12 months, respectively.
§ Mr. IsaacsThe information asked for is not immediately available but I am having it extracted and will write to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. ShephardIs it not a fact that ex-Servicemen have waited, and are still waiting, for periods of over 12 months? Is not that very disturbing, and what does the Minister propose to do to take up this time lag?
§ Mr. IsaacsThe answer to that is quite clear. It is that we are only training men in such numbers as industry agrees can be absorbed. Were we to extend our training facilities and to train a greater number of men, we should find they were unemployed when they came out. All the training is done in consultation with industry and we train the numbers which we are assured have a chance of finding employment.
§ Mr. ShephardWhy is it that the Minister says that these figures are not available?
§ Mr. IsaacsI said they are not immediately available. I am having them extracted and I will send them to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. ShephardWill the right hon. Gentleman circulate the information?
§ Mr. IsaacsCertainly, I will.