HC Deb 21 January 1964 vol 687 cc890-1
4. Mr. Boyden

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many local authorities organise training schemes involving clay release for their industrial employees under 18.

Mr. Corfield

No figures are available. I understand that apprenticeship schemes are widely supported in local government and that the nationally agreed conditions of service for industrial employees provide for a full range of training facilities, including financial assistance and day release.

Mr. Boyden

May I ask the Minister whether he recollects that last week he said that he was working on the survey of 1960 in relation to clerical workers? Does not the Minister think that he ought to get the figures up to date so that his Department knows what is going on, and so that he can encourage and develop schemes with the laggard authorities? I agree that they are not in the majority, but those that are bad ought to be pulled up to the standard of the best.

Mr. Corfield

The hon. Gentleman should not assume that any figures given are based on the same report of the same date.

5. Mr. Hoyden

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will list the local authorities which have officers engaged full time in organising training for their council's employees.

Mr. Corfield

This information is not available. Local authorities organise staff training in the way that best meets their own needs and those of their employees.

Mr. Boyden

May I ask the Minister whether it is possible for a big county council, or a big county borough, to organise training properly unless it has a training officer? Will the Minister consider extending the functions of his own training officers in his Department by adding staff to stimulate this sort of development?

Mr. Corfield

I shall certainly consider any suggestions made, but I think that the hon. Gentleman really takes the wrong examples. The big authorities are in a better position to organise training. It is in the smaller authorities that difficulties are likely to arise