HC Deb 04 May 1960 vol 622 cc1055-6
5. Mr. W. Hamilton

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty how many apprenticeships were available, and accepted,

THE FOLLOWING TABLE SHOWS THE NUMBER OF CRAFT APPRENTICE VACANCIES AND THE NUMBER ENTERED IN EACH OF H.M. DOCKYARDS AT HOME FROM 1955 TO 1959
— Portsmouth Devonport Chatham
Vacancies Entered Vacancies Entered Vacancies Entered
1955 … … … 410 340 367 367 322 306
1956 … … … 345 339 311 311 288 274
1957 … … … 301 284 221 220 267 260
1958 … … … 260 241 207 206 198 197
1959 … … … 270 254 227 226 189 189

in each of the royal dockyards for each of the last five years.

Mr. C. Ian Orr-Ewing

As the Answer involves a number of figures I will, with permission, circulate it in the Official Report. As I told the hon. Member on 30th March, we are increasing the intake of apprentices at Rosyth from 71 to 96—an increase of over a third.

Mr. Hamilton

Is the Civil Lord satisfied that, despite that increase, Rosyth is getting a fair proportion of the total available. Has his attention been called to the number of unemployed boys in the Cowdenbeath-Dunfermline area and the fact that there are no vacancies whatsoever available for them? Will he take that into account when possibly he reviews this matter?

Mr. Orr-Ewing

In terms of dockyard industrials, Rosyth has 11 per cent. of the industrials in our four naval dockyards and will have 12 per cent. of our apprentices next year. Therefore, it is getting its fair share, but I will make a note of the point which the hon. Member has made.

Following are the figures: