§ 8. Mr. Boydenasked the Minister of Labour how many boys and how many girls recommended by youth employment officers for training as apprentices in 1959 had been accepted as apprentices by June, 1960; and how many had not been accepted by that time.
§ Mr. P. ThomasThe information asked for by the hon. Member is not available.
§ Mr. BoydenIs the Parliamentary Secretary not aware that the Crowther Committee described the situation of apprentices from the point of view of the individual boy as alarming and, from the point of view of the State as disquieting? Is it not time that he had accurate statistics of the frustration caused and took more vigorous steps to remedy the serious situation?
§ Mr. ThomasI am well aware of many expressions which have been made about the situation. It is too early to give any figures, but I think it can be said that there is every hope that the figures this year will be an improvement over last year.