§ 48. Air-Commodore Harveyasked the Minister of Labour how many building ex-Service trainees are still receiving instruction, and how many are waiting to enter centres.
§ The Minister of Labour (Mr. Isaacs)On 8th April last, 20,702 ex-Servicemen were receiving training in the building trades, and 12,399 had been accepted and were awaiting allocation to training.
§ Air-Commodore HarveyCan the Minister say when these 12,000-odd are likely to be accepted, and whether the position is improving, compared with what it was 12 months ago?
§ Mr. IsaacsThe training has to be phased with the opportunity for employment when the training is completed. We are in consultation with the industry, and so can phase it up or down, as the industry may demand, at the time that the training ceases.
§ 49. Air-Commodore Harveyasked the Minister of Labour how many building ex-Service trainees were registered as unemployed at the latest convenient date.
§ Mr. IsaacsThis information is not readily available, and its extraction would involve a disproportionate expenditure of time, which would not be justified.
§ Air-Commodore HarveyIn view of the serious situation in the building industry, will the Minister make an effort to get this information, because it is important that the House should have it?
§ Mr. IsaacsWe could get the information, but it would mean searching the records of every individual ex-Serviceman who has been undergoing training, finding out where he has gone to work and whether he has left one job to go to another, and where he is now. Anything can be done by the Ministry of Labour, 2163 but this would take such a long time, and would involve so much labour, that we. do not think it would be practicable.
§ Air-Commodore HarveyWithout going to all that trouble, will the Minister say whether he or his Department has any idea of what the position is?
§ Mr. IsaacsNo, Sir. We have no idea without making this exhaustive search.