HC Deb 20 January 1948 vol 446 cc11-2
16. Mr. John E. Haire

asked the Minister of Labour if he is satisfied that his higher appointments bureaux continue to fulfil a useful function; and if he will give relevant figures for the past year.

Mr. Isaacs

Yes, Sir. I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate the relevant figures for the past year in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Haire

Would not my right hon. Friend agree that perhaps these bureaux are now overstaffed in view of the appointments offered by them, or, alternatively, would he not encourage employers to make more use of them?

Mr. Isaacs

I do not agree that they are overstaffed. As for the second part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question, I would be glad if we could get more employers to make more use of them.

Mr. Godfrey Nicholson

Will the right hon. Gentleman include the relevant figures so far as persons from India and Burma are concerned? How many of them have been placed?

Mr. Isaacs

If the hon. Member will give me notice, I will see what I can do to answer his question, but they are not in the figures which I have prepared for the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following are the figures:

1. Technical and Scientific Register
Enrolments 6,719
Vacancies notified 8,595
Vacancies filled 2,808
Graduates allocated 2,775
2. Appointments Register
New and revived registrations 72,905
Vacancies notified 30,811
Registrants placed 13,765
3. Further Education and Training Scheme
Applications received 58,001
Awards made 48,030
4. Business Training
Applications received 7,385
Students completed General Course 4,183
Further courses arranged with firms 2,620

In addition a considerable volume of work was done by way of resettlement advice to ex-Service personnel and advice to persons seeking careers of a professional nature. Special attention was devoted to the training and placing of disabled persons.