§ 48. Mr. Dickensasked the Minister of Labour how many of his Department's training centres are at present in operation; how many training places are available; what is the average time taken to obtain entry; and if he will make a statement on proposals for future deployment.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsThere are 32 Government training centres in operation with 6,200 training places. Under existing expansion plans there will be 38 centres next year with some 8,000 training places. It is not possible to give a meaningful average time for entry into training as this varies from trade to trade and from centre to centre. We are considering plans for further expansion.
§ Mr. DickensIs my hon. Friend aware that, whilst this is a welcome improvement upon anything achieved by the Conservative Government, we still want to see much greater progress in the provision of Government training centres? Will she consider the urgency of establishing centres within factories, perhaps with facilities used at present for training apprentices, in the present very difficult time?
§ Mrs. WilliamsI have every sympathy on this matter, but I ask my hon. Friend to await the forthcoming debate.