§ 40. Mr. Prenticeasked the Minister of Labour if he will make a statement on the steps he will take to implement the proposals contained in the White Paper on Industrial Training; and when he expects to introduce legislation.
§ Mr. HareI have put the proposals before the British Employers' Confederation, the Trades Union Congress and the nationalised industries. My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Minister of Education are consulting educational interests. It is the Government's intention to complete these discussions as soon as possible in view of the radical new approach to industrial training comprised in these proposals. I cannot at this stage indicate when discussions will be completed.
§ Mr. PrenticeIs the Minister aware that hon. Members on this side of the House welcomed the White Paper but regret that these steps were not taken two or three years ago when they were advocated by hon. Members on this side 409 so that advantage could have been taken of them before the bulge in the number of school leavers and there would have been no lack of opportunity of training in the last few years? Will the right hon. Gentleman do everything to speed up the consultations? May we expect him to present a Bill to this House during the current Session?
§ Mr. HareI cannot remember that in 1958 the hon. Gentleman or any of his hon. Friends attacked the Carr Report. That was supported by the trade union movement. I do not think that the hon. Gentleman can claim too much merit for the authorship of these proposals. Naturally, I wish to see that the discussions are completed as quickly as possible. These are radical and new proposals which will be of great benefit to industrial training. I shall see that there will be no unnecessary delay in seeking a conclusion.