§ 2. Mr. Harold Daviesasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many National Assistance Board re-establishment centres there are in Great Britain; how many men have been trained for new jobs at these centres; and how many have been admitted since the centres opened.
§ Mr. N. MacphersonThree, Sir. These centres are provided under Section 16 of the National Assistance Act, 1948, for men who have been unemployed for a long time in order to fit them for re-entry into regular work. I am informed by the Board that 2,784 men passed through the centres between June, 1951 and December 1962; that 1,013 were placed in employment from the centres; and that many others are known to have obtained work shortly after leaving.
§ Mr. DaviesI thank the right hon. Gentleman for that answer. Can he now tell us the name of the third centre? In the 1960 Report we had West Hill and Henley-in-Arden. What is the name of the third centre? Finally, is the Minister aware of public perturbation about conditions in these camps? Can he assure the House that conditions are quite normal for the men and that they really are rehabilitated and their time is not wasted?
§ Mr. MacphersonThe third centre is at Brady House, Stepney, which is a non-residential re-establishment centre.
With regard to the second part of the hon. Gentleman's question, this is an extremely difficult problem. The object is to rehabilitate men and restore them to the habit and discipline of work commensurate with their strength. If the hon. Gentleman would like to visit any of these centres, the National Assistance Board would gladly show him round.
§ Mr. DaviesI might take up that offer.
§ Mr. MitchisonIs there such a centre in Scotland? If not, ought not there to be one?
§ Mr. MacphersonThis is under consideration at the present time.