§ 6. Mr. Hayhoeasked the Secretary of State for Employment what action his department is taking to expand and encourage training opportunities, particularly for the unemployed.
§ Mr. BryanI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for The High Peak (Mr. Le Marchant) on 4th November, 1970.—[Vol. 805, c. 383–4.]
§ Mr. HayhoeDoes the Minister accept that, while the major task is to strengthen 826 and widen the employment base in this country, the provision of extra facilities for training for the unemployed, particularly the disabled, is immensely important?
§ Mr. BryanI certainly accept my hon. Friend's statement. I ask him to study the reply to which I referred, which underlines some important new steps that we are taking. For instance, a new scheme of training grants for employers to help workers over 45 who have been unemployed for more than eight weeks came into operation on 1st January in the development and intermediate areas.
§ Mr. Edwin WainwrightWill the hon. Gentleman take into account that the long-term unemployed, especially miners and men from heavy industries, feel that they will have no work and no future? Will he increase the training facilities for these people so that they can come back again into industry?
§ Mr. BryanAs the hon. Gentleman will know, I know his area very well and I realise the requirements in that direction. I can only assure him that my Department is doing all it can. One of our problems is to fill the training facilities we already have.