§ 41. Mr. Eyreasked the Minister of Labour how many vacancies are available at the Government training centre in Birmingham; and what plans are being made to expand that centre and provide additional Government training centres in the city.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsOn 28th November there were 25 vacancies at the Government training centre in Birmingham. During 1967–68, a further 36 places will be provided. We have at present no plans to provide additional centres in the city, but the opening of a centre at Coventry next year should relieve pressure on the Birmingham centre.
§ Mr. EyreIs not the hon. Lady aware that, as a result of Government measures, a great number of men have moved from manufacturing and exporting industries to work in shops and similar services, and is she further aware that the inadequacy of Government retraining facilities—the provision at Coventry is of no consequence to Birmingham—makes a mockery of the words "planned redeployment"?
§ Mrs. WilliamsI cannot follow the hon. Gentleman's argument. He will know at least as well as I do that a good many people in the Coventry area train in the Birmingham G.T.C. so that the opening of a training centre in Coventry is bound to relieve the situation in Birmingham. The present arrangements made for Government training are showing a very high rate of expansion, which was not paralleled during the hon. Gentleman's party's administration.