§ 45. Mr. Moyleasked the Minister of Labour what extra training facilities he now intends to provide in South-East London for 6,000 Associated Electrical Industries' employees who will have to seek alternative employment as a result of the recent closures announced in the area.
§ Mr. HattersleyExperience suggests that many of the redundant A.E.I. workers will not require retraining before taking other jobs. Where retraining at the operator level is required, this can usually best be given by the new firm. Redundant workers who need the accelerated training for skill given by Government training centres will be able to obtain it at the Medway and Poplar centres, which together have some 500 training places and will have nearly 700 by the end of the year. As the House has already been informed, a further centre is also proposed for South-East London, though the precise site has not yet been settled.
§ Mr. MoyleWill my hon. Friend bear in mind the danger of complacency when regarding this problem? Is he aware that many of the employees concerned are long-service employees who will have to face employment in alternative industries and, therefore, require retraining? Will he promise to keep the situation under careful review?
§ Mr. HattersleyI can give my hon. Friend that assurance and the assurance that there is no complacency in my Ministry in this regard. There is simply some satisfaction that the training facilities are available should they be needed.