§ 31. Mr. Braineasked the Minister of Labour why the Shipbuilding Industry Training Board, after two years of active existence, has no plans for the training of personnel in glass fibre techniques for the reinforced plastics boat building industry; and whether he will make a statement, in view of the fact that this industry makes a useful contribution to the economy.
40. Mr. Gresham Cookeasked the Minister of Labour when the Shipbuilding Industry Training Board is going to make available training in glass fibre techniques for personnel in the plastics boat building industry; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HattersleyThe Shipbuilding Industry Training Board has set up a Working Party to consider the training of fibre glass workers, but it is too early to say when the training recommendations will become available or whether the Board will itself provide training facilities.
§ Mr. BraineThat is most unsatisfactory. How can the hon. Gentleman reconcile the complete failure of the Board, after two years, to provide adequate training facilities with an increase in the current year of 230 per cent. in the levy? Will he give the House an assurance that this kind of farce, this nonsense, will stop and that the Board will be told to get on with its job?
§ Mr. HattersleyIt is perhaps appropriate that a synthetic product should be dealt with with such synthetic anger—
§ Mr. BraineOn a point of order. I am representing the considered views of my constituent, and I ask the hon. Gentleman to withdraw those most unpleasant remarks.
§ Mr. BraineDisgraceful.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. That is not a point of order.
§ Mr. HattersleyFurther to that point of order—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I ruled that it was not a point of order. Mr. Gresham Cooke.
Mr. Gresham CookeWill the Parliamentary Secretary realise that this is a matter of urgency? Is he aware that had he looked into the matter at the Boat Show he would have seen that the majority of boats there were made of fibre glass and now he would have seen in the Press that the hovercraft industry, as evidenced by the latest Hovermarine Ltd. designs, is actively interested in fibre glass and the use of reinforced plastics? Will he see to it that the Shipbuilding Industry Training Board gets on with its job?
§ Mr. HattersleyI am conscious of the need to adapt methods used for fibre glass products to this end, as, indeed, is the Shipbuilding Industry Training Board. The Board made it clear that it intends to proceed carefully with its advice about the application of these techniques. That is why the Board initially raised only a small levy and why the second and third year levies, although greater, are not as great as the amounts levied by some other boards. It is the intention of the Board to improve techniques in this respect and to pay grants for this work as soon as it is in a position to make precise recommendations.
§ Sir K. JosephWould the hon. Gentleman accept that it will not conduce to the speedy dispatch of business if he unnecessarily makes personal comments on the manner in which perfectly proper questions are put to him?
§ Mr. BraineOwing to the unsatisfactory nature of the Minister's reply, I beg 1137 to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible opportunity.