HC Deb 22 February 1965 vol 707 cc22-3
23. Dame Irene Ward

asked the Minister of Labour how many places are available for retraining and how many for rehabilitation at the Felling Training Centre; and what is the size of the waiting list.

Mr. Marsh

There are 345 training places in the Government training centre at Felling and 100 rehabilitation places in the Industrial Rehabilitation Unit. The waiting lists are 111 and 60 respectively.

Dame Irene Ward

Taking all these figures globally, about which I will not argue, is the hon. Gentleman aware that the mining industry in the northern districts requires information now on what steps will be taken, in view of the fact that the industry can provide the hon. Gentleman with the information about redundancy in the mines? We should not have such good results in mining on the North-East Coast if the industry did not know its trade. Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the industry knows its trade better than he does?

Mr. Marsh

It is our intention to provide another 44 places which will provide training for 88 men at Felling before the middle of this year, and another 82 places at Billingham which will provide training for another 160 men. We accept that the position is unsatisfactory, and I am sure the hon. Lady would be prepared to say that it is unsatisfactory at the moment, but it is her right hon. Friend's fault and not ours. In addition to these sizeable increases which have taken place, we are also considering the whole of the Government training centre programme.

Dame Irene Ward

I am obliged.