HC Deb 06 June 1962 vol 661 cc444-5
10. Mr. W. Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is yet in a position to make a statement concerning compulsory day release for trainees in industry.

Mr. Brooman-White

The position is as given in my right hon. Friend's Answer to the hon. Member for Coatbridge and Airdrie (Mr. Dempsey) on 7th May.

Mr. Hamilton

Can the hon. Gentleman say when we shall have a firm decision in this matter in view of the recommendation on it of the Toothill Report on Scottish Economy? The matter is extremely urgent despite the fact that we have had some improvement in figures in recent times.

Mr. Brooman-White

We all appreciate the importance of this problem. The hon. Member will realise that we had the first part of the Oakley Report in the middle of April. We are awaiting further comments on that. It has been referred to the various interested bodies, and I do not think that I should comment on the wider issues until we receive the second part of the Report.

Miss Herbison

The hon. Gentleman is aware that, apart from the Toothill Committee's recommendations, there are many bodies in Scotland which feel that a decision on this matter should be taken immediately. Is he aware that not only should we provide training for these young people so that our industries and production can be improved but that these are the very young people who finish full-time education at 15 years of age? In other words, they represent over 70 per cent. of the young people of Scotland? Should not the Government, for this reason alone, be doing something urgently on this matter?

Mr. Brooman-White

I do not think that we ought to anticipate what will be said on this by the Committee which, to give its full title, is the Development of Day Release Committee of the Scottish Technical Education Consultative Council. It has been asked to go into the question and it is doing so.