HC Deb 04 February 1964 vol 688 cc950-1
3. Mr. Boyden

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, following the proposals in the Industrial Training Bill, what new steps he is taking to ensure that all industrial civil servants under 18 receive both day release and suitable industrial training.

Mr. Green

Day release is already an integral past of the training of apprentices who are about two-thirds of the total of young people in Government industrial establishments, and Departments are progressively recruiting more apprentices. Other young people are given suitable industrial training and are encouraged to continue their education by day release up to and sometimes beyond 18.

Mr. Boyden

What steps are being taken about the one-third—the unskilled and semi-skilled workers—so that they will attend day release up to the age of 18 and will thus get much better training than they are now getting in some quarters of the Civil Service?

Mr. Green

I can assure the hon. Gentleman that Government Departments are concerned and do their level best. We take the view that often better results are got by persuasion than by compulsion; and persuasion is certainly being used.

Mr. Manuel

Is the Financial Secretary satisfied that there are enough establishments giving day release training to make this completely operative throughout the country?

Mr. Green

I would require notice of that question.