§ 14. Mr. Dempseyasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will consult employers with a view to introducing a scheme whereby apprentices nearing completion of their apprenticeships will be permitted to do so without being paid off; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Chichester-ClarkNo, Sir. This would be a matter for the joint voluntary bodies in industry. However, if apprentices are paid off, special efforts are made by my Department and the Youth Employment Service, in conjunction with the training boards and other organisations, to enable them to continue their training.
§ Mr. DempseyIs the Minister aware that the paying off of fourth-year apprentices in industry is economically wasteful to the nation, morally destructive of the individuals, and a national scandal? Is he for example considering what steps he 337 might take to overcome this tragic problem? What proposals do the Government have in mind to eliminate this human difficulty?
§ Mr. Chichester-ClarkIn terms of numbers this problem is not, fortunately, very widespread. Of about 300 over the country in the last three months, 93 were in Scotland. This is a somewhat high proportion. Where it is not possible to find employment for an apprentice to continue his training, the Department is prepared in suitable cases to arrange for a period of continued training at Government expense with an employer or industry centre, a college of further education or a GTC. There have been occasions when such arrangements have proved very effective.
§ Mr. James HillWill my hon. Friend give consideration to the answer to a letter which I forwarded to him concerning the apprentices of the Ford Motor Company in Southampton who are being released halfway through their apprenticeship?
§ Mr. Chichester-ClarkI will most certainly pay attention to what my hon. Friend says. If the hon. Member for Coatbridge and Airdrie (Mr. Dempsey) has a particular case in mind—though I think not in his own constituency—perhaps he will let me know.