HC Deb 14 April 1970 vol 799 cc1197-8
22. Mr. Gwilym Roberts

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will make a statement about his recent official visit to Gibraltar.

Mr. John Silkin

I visited Gibraltar to attend the opening of Gibraltar Building Week, which marked the launching of a new training scheme instituted by my Department in conjunction with the Government of Gibraltar. The main feature off the week was a building exhibition, largely organised by my Department but with considerable local support, to encourage recruitment for construction. During my visit I also had discussions at my Department's Western Mediterranean Region headquarters and saw the new Construction Industry Training Centre in operation.

Mr. Roberts

What will standards of tuition and general training at the training centre be like? Can my right hon. Friend assure us that the standards will be high enough?

Mr. Silkin

I can certainly assure my hon. Friend that the training course is of a very high standard indeed. There are in fact a number of courses. They are all based on those run by the Construction Industry Training Board at Bircham Newton, so the standard at Gibraltar will be no lower than that in the United Kingdom.

Sir H. Legge-Bourke

In the course of his visit, did the right hon. Gentleman have any discussions about the possibility of improving the accommodation of British troops, especially those stationed in the old R.A.F. barracks at the northern end of the Rock?

Mr. Silkin

No. My visit on this occasion was purely to do with the question of the Building Week.