§ Mr. LANSBURYasked the Minister of Labour what is the total number of ex-service trainees on the waiting list; if it is proposed to continue the closing down of the trainee factories; and, if this is the case, will he consider the advisability of suspending the closing down of the factories for the time being because of the serious hardship which would be involved by throwing the instructors and staffs on to the labour market, and the serious hardship to trainees awaiting their course of instruction?
§ Mr. SHAWThe number of men on the waiting list for training in Great Britain is 1,854, and in Ireland, 2,551. A considerable proportion of these are not yet ready for training. A sufficient number of training centres will be retained to train all men who are eligible, suitable, and available for training. I should not be justified in continuing to employ instructors and other staff after the work for which they were engaged had ceased.