§ 8. Mr. Benceasked the Minister of Labour if he will undertake a survey of possible redundancies from pit closures in Scotland, in order to take steps to provide facilities for retraining and re-employment in new industries.
§ Mr. GunterI have already made a preliminary review and I shall continue to watch the situation closely in consultation with the other Ministers concerned. In addition, the Scottish Economic Planning Council is actively examining the position.
§ Mr. BenceWould my right hon. Friend step up the creation of training centres in Scotland so that men who are forcibly dismissed from the pits, especially disabled men, may be retrained for employment in the new expanding industries which will be coming to Scotland as a result of the present Government's policies for Scotland?
§ Mr. GunterYes, indeed. That is very much in the mind of the Government. By the end of the coming year the training places in Scotland at Government training centres will be 14 per cent. of the total places throughout the country.