20. Mr. Bob Brownasked the Minister of Power if he will take steps to ensure that area gas boards increase the number of apprentice gasfitters in order that they may be in a position to deal with the steady increase in sales of domestic appliances.
§ Mr. FreesonIt is for the area boards to ensure that they have sufficient trained personnel to meet their needs. They are already planning to increase the number of fitters.
Mr. BrownWould my hon. Friend accept that it is fairly well known in the trade unions in the industry that there is a great shortage of gasfitters up and down the country and that when conversions start this shortage will be accelerated by private firms filching the men who have already been trained by the board?
§ Mr. FreesonI am aware that there are difficulties in this field, but it is as well to keep them in perspective. The intake of apprentices into the industry has doubled in the last five years and the proportion of apprentices to qualified craftsmen is higher than in many other industries.