HC Deb 18 March 1952 vol 497 cc2083-4
20. Miss Ward

asked the Minister of Labour the number of training places which exist under his control for men and for women, shown separately; and what reduction, expressed as a percentage, in administrative costs, has been imposed on these establishments.

Sir W. Monckton

The number of training places at present available at Government training centres is 3,623. It is impossible to allocate them as between men and women as some courses are open to either sex. Despite the needs of the re-armament programme and the necessity for providing facilities for training the disabled, a reduction of 13 per cent. has been made in the costs to meet current economic circumstances.

Miss Ward

Will my right hon. and learned Friend reconsider what appears to be a savage discrimination against places for the training of women as well as of men?

Sir W. Monckton

I did draw attention to the fact, in relation to this cut, that it was in spite of the needs of re-armament, and so forth, that we have had to have the cut on this training scheme