§ 19. Mr. Bostonasked the Minister of Labour what progress is being made in extending industrial training and retraining facilities in the East Kent area; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MarshDifficulty is being experienced in finding a site for the new Government training centre planned for the 19 area of the Medway Towns. It is, however, still hoped to find one, and if so the new centre should be within daily travelling distance of a substantial proportion of the population of East Kent.
§ Mr. BostonWould my hon. Friend confirm that the Isle of Sheppey might be considered as a possible site for this centre? This is a special area. It has had a recurrent high unemployment problem ever since the closure of the Sheerness dockyard. Quite a lot of dock workers still work in the Medway Towns but live in Sheppey. There is, therefore, a real need for training facilities on the Isle of Sheppey.
§ Mr. MarshI will certainly look at the proposals which my hon. Friend has made. The Ministry accepts entirely the need for a centre in the Medway Towns areas. At the moment it is purely a question of finding a site.