§ Mr. HOPKINSasked the Minister of Labour why 20 London men were sent to Durham to train in the vehicle trade while there were 200 empty places in the Government factory in Camden Town; and what is the additional cost in maintenance and travelling involved in sending these men so far away from their homes?
§ Sir M. BARLOWThe men were sent to Birtley, near Newcastle, because there were then no vacancies in London for training coach painters. They would have had to wait six months for vacancies in London, and it was obviously in their interest to start training at once. There was some additional cost in maintenance allowances; the amount cannot be stated without inquiry into each man's home circumstances. The cost of tickets to and from Birtley was more than offset by the saving of daily travelling expenses in London.