§ 10. Mr. Sidney Shephardasked the Minister of Labour if he will state the total number of persons waiting to be admitted for a vocational training course; and how many of them have been waiting for periods of three, six and 12 months, respectively.
§ Mr. IsaacsTwo thousand, seven hundred and eighty-four. I could not give without special inquiry the periods for which individuals have been waiting.
§ Mr. ShephardIs it not a fact that the Minister has given that information previously? Will he assure the House that no man has waited for as long a period as 12 months before undertaking one of these courses?
§ Mr. IsaacsI could not give a definite assurance of that kind. It depends on the trade which the man is seeking and the opportunities which exist for entering it. However, I can assure the House that on an average three months is the maximum waiting period.
§ 18. Mr. Skeffingtonasked the Minister of Labour how many of the 4,301 persons in Government training centres are women; and for what work the women are being trained.
§ Mr. IsaacsTwo hundred women are in training; for canteen cookery, cotton spinning, dressmaking, engineering draughtsmanship, hairdressing, shorthand typing, and retail bespoke tailoring.