§ 3.18 p.m.
Baroness VICKERSMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
The Question was as follows:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, in view of their letter of 25th May 1976, in reply to a question raised in the recent debate on defence concerning the progress of four of Her Majesty's destroyers, why is it stated that there have been delays owing to labour shortages when there are a large number of persons unemployed.
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, the unforeseen labour shortages referred to occurred among highly specialist outfitting trades.
Baroness VICKERSMy Lords, could the noble Lord repeat the last part of his Answer? I could not hear.
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, apologise to the noble Baroness. The shortages referred to occurred among highly specialist outfitting trades—outfitting in the naval sense.
Baroness VICKERSMy Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for repeating his Answer, may I ask him whether it is time for more people to be trained? There are so many people unemployed. What are the Government doing about training these people, who are so necessary? In view of the numbers damaged in the cod war, is it not particularly necessary to get these ships to sea?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, the warship builders are responsible for 812 recruiting their workforce, and have substantial recruitment schemes. However, the Manpower Services Commission continues to provide opportunities for people to learn these trades if they wish. We cannot compel people to learn to become electricians and pipe-benders in this area, which are the two trades in which there is a particular shortage of labour.
§ Lord LEE of NEWTONMy Lords, is my noble friend aware that this shortage of skilled labour which he has now revealed will be very widespread as the economy makes the upturn that we are all looking forward to? Could he say when the Government intend to introduce that which they promised at the time of the Election: namely, compulsory day or block release for those hundreds of thousands of young people who are getting no technical training whatever after the age of 16?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, I am speaking for a Department for which I am in no way responsible. As I understand it, the Government have this very much in mind and are implementing an extended training scheme in preparation for the increased growth of our economy which we are all expecting.