§ 14. Mr. Dumpletonasked the Minister of Works what special steps have been taken to review apprenticeship in the building industry.
§ Mr. KeyYes, Sir. The Building Apprenticeship and Training Council, al my request, has recently considered in detail certain problems that have arisen in connection with the recruitment of apprentices in the building industry. The Council has submitted to me two Reports entitled "Building Apprenticeship: Recruitment and Training" and "Recruitment of Masons," and these Reports were published by His Majesty's Stationery Office this morning. I am most grateful to the Council and I hope that all concerned with the well-being of the industry will study the reports carefully.
In so far as the Council's recommendations affect my own Department exclusively, I am in complete sympathy with them and will take steps to give effect to them. As regards the other recommendations, I am consulting those of my colleagues who are affected with a view to decisions being given as soon as possible.
§ Mr. DumpletonIs my right hon. Friend aware that youth employment officers in some areas are having great difficulty in placing boys who want to be apprenticed in the building trade because of the reluctance of employers to train them? Will these reports indicate that this problem will be dealt with?
§ Mr. KeyI think these reports will help considerably in that respect, and I have also been taking up with the building industry the question of the further taking on boys in this work.
§ Mr. Emrys HughesIs my right hon. Friend aware that building apprentices in Scotland are being called up for military service though they are much more needed on their jobs, and will he make representations to his colleagues to stop this?