§ 4. Mr. Marksasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of craft apprenticeships in the National Health Service started each year since 1978.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Security (Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg)Information in the form requested is not collected centrally and could not be obtained without undue cost; but the available statistics show that 401 building and engineering craft apprentices were employed in the National Health Service in England at 30 September 1978 and 460 at 30 September 1979.
§ Mr. MarksIs it not astonishing that the Department cannot find out from health authorities how many craft apprentices began this year? Will the same thing happen in the NHS as happened when the Under-Secretary of State was in charge of the Property Services Agency? Will there be a 70 per cent. cut in apprenticeships?
§ Mr. FinsbergThe hon. Gentleman has forgotten that the running down of the PSA was part of a policy that was begun under the Labour Government.