HC Deb 28 April 1981 vol 3 cc637-8
6. Mr. Douglas

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a further statement on his use of defence facilities for industrial training by the Manpower Services Commission.

Mr. Prior

There are at present 97 programmes of work experience on employers premises under the youth opportunities programme sponsored by the Ministry of Defence, offering some 420 places. The scope for a further contribution by the Armed Services to helping the young unemployed is presently being examined by officials in my Department and the Ministry of Defence.

Mr. Douglas

Will the Minister get to grips with the issue? Is he aware that there would be considerable resentment if the type of scheme envisaged by some of his hon. Friends and The Observer were put into practice? Will he examine in particular the positive element of training within the dockyards where facilities are under-used? At Rosyth, for example, HMS "Caledonia" has under-used facilities for the training of artificers.

Mr. Prior

Three schemes are already operating in Rosyth dockyard. Perhaps we could do more to use the Ministry of Defence resources. I hope that no one will under-estimate the large number of young people who would be proud indeed to play some part, even in uniform, in the Services for a short time.

Mrs. Fenner

Is my right hon. Friend aware that I am delighted that he is still arranging for investigation of the use of defence facilities? Does he accept that over 53 per cent. of the young unemployed in the whole of the county of Kent live in my constituency and adjoining constituencies? Is he aware that we look for the wise use of training facilities in Chatham dockyard which would be of enormous benefit to young people in the area?

Mr. Prior

I am glad of my hon. Friend's comment. All that I require is the money.

Mr. Frank Allaun

I support the proposals made by my hon. Friend the Member for Dunfermline (Mr. Douglas) for the industrial training of workers, but will the Secretary of State reconsider his last remarks about military training? Will he reject flatly the much-publicised proposals by his right hon. Friend the Member for Stafford and Stone (Sir H. Fraser) for compulsory National Service, as young people today are anxious for industrial training, not military training?

Mr. Prior

We have always made it clear that any form of training would be entirely voluntary. If facilities in the Services are under-used and if many young people would like to take advantage of such training, they should be given the opportunity to do so.

Mr. Allaun

But not in uniform.

Mr. Marlow

Does my right hon. Friend agree that as long as young people did not use resources that the Armed Services required, as long as they did not use money from the defence budget and as long as they were volunteers, there could be no possible criticism of any such scheme?

Mr. Prior

Generally speaking, that is true. However, such schemes would take additional resources. It must be borne in mind that the schemes that have been put to the Manpower Services Commission would be more costly than the ordinary youth opportunities programme. Such schemes would require additional resources. That is one of the points that I am trying to consider.