HC Deb 27 May 1971 vol 818 cc552-3
3. Mr. Douglas

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what estimates he has made of the recruitment of apprentices in engineering, in the regions of the United Kingdom in the year 1971–72.

Mr. Bryan

The engineering industry has maintained a high proportion of apprentice recruitment in recent years. I would hope that with the support of the Engineering Industry Training Board this will be maintained in 1971, but it will not be possible to say until later in the year.

Mr. Douglas

Will the hon. Gentleman confirm that, particularly in Scotland, because of the economic recession firms cannot take their usual intake of engineering apprentices? Does he concede that that will mean a serious erosion of skill in Scotland and in other regions, which it will be difficult, if not impossible, to make up in future years? Will his Department, in consultation with the Engineering Industry Training Board, do something about it?

Mr. Bryan

I will certainly go into the facts that the hon. Gentleman has just given. In general, it is not possible to judge the level of recruitment until later in the year; 80 per cent. of apprentice recruitment occurs in July and August.

Mr. Eadie

The hon. Gentleman's reply was most unsatisfactory. Does he agree that in Scotland, for example, we have the highest rate of unemployment among the under-18s in Britain, and that for a young person under 18 trying to get a job for the first time in his life there is nothing more soul-destroying and humiliating than to be turned away?

Mr. Bryan

I am sure that hon. Members agree with what the hon. Gentleman said. Although the level of unemployment has risen, I urge employers to maintain their recruitment of apprentices so that neither they individually nor the industry at large find themselves short of craftsmen in the future.

Mr. Orme

I was pleased to hear what the hon. Gentleman said about the success of the Engineering Industry Training Board. Perhaps that might be the answer to some of his hon. Friends who are knocking the training boards, which are doing such a magnificent job. [An HON. MEMBER: "Rubbish."] The facts bear out what I am saying. Will not the hon. Gentleman encourage the Engineering Industry Training Board to increase the number of apprentices this year?

Mr. Bryan

I said that I appreciate the importance of the number of apprentices. As to the pros and cons of the training boards, the fact that we are having a wide-ranging review shows that a balanced view will be taken.

Mr. Moyle

Does the Minister agree that if those trying to destroy the training boards have their way, the number of apprenticeships offered to people in the engineering industry will be sharply reduced? Will not that mean a sharp contraction of opportunities for working-class children?

Mr. Bryan

That sort of question is getting very wide of the mark. The atmosphere in my Department certainly is not in that direction. The hon. Gentleman has only to look at the record of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to see that he is not the sort of man who would countenance that sort of development.