§ 37. Mr. Blenkinsopasked the Minister of Labour what retraining facilities will be offered to miners losing their jobs when the Whitburn pit in County Durham is closed.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour (Mr. Roy Hattersley)I understand that a large number of these miners wil be offered jobs at adjoining pits and that comparatively few of them are likely to require work outside coalmining. Where retraining at operator level is required, it can usually best be given by their new employers, with help of the Industrial Training Boards and of the Government grants which are available to assist such training in development areas. Those miners who want and are suitable for the accelerated training for skill given by Government training centres will be able to obtain it at the Felling Centre or at any other of the 38 centres where the trade of their choice is taught.
§ Mr. BlenkinsopWill my hon. Friend give an assurance that the more than 200 men over 55 will not be excepted from the opportunity of having training courses merely by reason of the fact of pension facilities?
§ Mr. HattersleyI give my right hon. Friend that assurance with pleasure, and I give the assurance to men over 55 that their age is no reason to assume that they are not suitable for training.