§ 10. Mr. Fortescueasked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what is the effect on the size of classes at Government training centres of the refusal of trade unions to accept trainees if numbers rise above a given maximum.
§ Mr. HattersleyThere have been no cases of refusal to accept trainees for this reason. The size of particular classes however may be temporarily reduced, after consultation with trade unions, to safeguard the employment prospects of trainees.
§ Mr. FortescueWould the hon. Gentleman agree that, while all restrictive practices are to be deprecated, this very restrictive practice, which seeks to nullify the effect of the Government training centres, is particularly to be delored?
§ Mr. HattersleyThe hon. Gentleman is commenting on a restrictive practice which, I have already told him, does not exist. Any reductions in the size of classes is made as a result of a Government decision and is certainly not imposed by trade unions.