41. Air Commodore Harveyasked the Minister of Labour what arrangements are made by his Department to see that trade apprentices are placed in a suitable trade when undertaking their period of National Service.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodMen possessing qualifications or trade skill in demand in the Forces are identified by my Department before entry, but responsibility for the employment of men during their period of National Service rests with the Service Departments.
Air Commodore HarveyIs my right hon. Friend aware that a constituent of mine, who is within a few months of passing his final examination as a dental mechanic, has recently been called up to the Royal Air Force and is not following his trade? Does not he think that this is a tragedy for the country and for the individual, and will he try to do more to ensure that these young men get a better chance?
§ Mr. MacleodThe difficulty is that there are no vacancies in the R.A.F.—which is the Service to which this man wanted to go—for the trade of dental mechanic. We do everything we can to 1004 match supply and demand in this respect, but, obviously, it is not always possible to equate them exactly.