§ 39. Mr. D. Howellasked the Minister of Labour how many places exist in his training centres in the Birmingham area; what industries are mainly covered by them; and how many redundant workers from the motor industry can be accommodated at these centres in the immediate future.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour and National Service (Mr. Robert Carr)The Birmingham centre has 142 places, of which 28 are at present unoccupied. The trades taught in it include agricultural machinery repair; 582 motor repair; hairdressing; radio repair; typewriter repair; watch and clock repair; carpentry; shorthand typing and engineering draughtsmanship.
§ Mr. HowellIs the Minister prepared to look at the question of increasing the number of places at these centres if the present position the motor car industry persists in Birmingham? Do not the Answers given to these three Questions clearly show that the Government have no policy whatsoever to meet the present position in Birmingham and elsewhere?
§ Mr. CarrWhilst utterly dissociating myself from the last part of the hon. Member's supplementary question—[HON. MEMBERS: "Why?"]—because it is not accurate—I can assure him that we shall keep the point made in the first part in mind. There are 120 further places in the Birmingham centre alone which could be brought into use at comparatively short notice, if the need arose for resettlement.