HC Deb 04 March 1959 vol 601 c423
12. Miss Vickers

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty, in view of the fact that Plymouth has more than the national average of school leavers, if he will consider increasing the intake of apprentices for the next five years in Her Majesty's Dockyard, Devonport.

Mr. T. G. D. Galbraith

The apprentice entry must be related to the number of craftsmen we need in the future, and we cannot undertake to enter more than we need. The entry approved for Devonport this year is in fact a little higher than the entries made in the last two years.

Miss Vickers

In view of the fact that in answer to a Question which I asked the Civil Lord last week he said that there would be a reduction of about 200 in the next twelve months, does he not think that it is the duty of the Admiralty to train boys, as private firms have done, so that they can go to firms other than in the Plymouth area?

Mr. Galbraith

While I have a certain amount of sympathy with the point of view of the hon. Lady, I think it would be a great mistake to train more apprentices than there are likely to be vacancies for in the Royal Dockyards.