HC Deb 17 April 1961 vol 638 cc782-3
34. Mr. Prentice

asked the Minister of Labour how many posts for training development officers have now been created by the Industrial Training Council; how many officers are now employed; and in what parts of the country they are operating.

Mr. Hare

Twelve posts have been created and nine officers are now employed. A further officer will be taking up appointment on 1st May in Glasgow and a second on 1st August in Manchester.

Mr. Prentice

What impact does the Minister think that twelve training officers will have on a nation with 50 million people in time to make a difference to the extra number of school leavers in the next three years? Is it not clear that a much bigger scale of effort is required?

Mr. Hare

The hon. Gentleman is ignoring the vast amount of extra effort which has been put into this campaign by both sides of industry. These are specialist training officers who are there to supplement what has already been done.