HC Deb 15 April 1937 vol 322 cc1194-5W
Mr. Riley

asked the Minister of Labour how many families have been settled to date by the Special Areas Commissioners on self-supporting small holdings; and the total acreage comprised in such settlements?

Mr. E. Brown

Following is the information:

apprentices for His Majesty's Stationery Office printing works at Harrow and South London; and, if so, whether such change will be in conformity with the recognised customs of the industry?

Lieut.-Colonel Colville

The Controller of His Majesty's Stationery Office recently appointed a Departmental Committee to advise him generally on the recruitment and training of technical personnel in his Department. This committee will include in its inquiry the question of recruitment of apprentices in the Department's printing works. I am not aware of the existence of any recognised customs in the printing industry for the selection of apprentices. In this, as in other industries, selection is governed by the suitability of the candidate.

Mr. Naylor

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will give particulars as to the number of boys who sat at the last examination of candidates for apprenticeship at His Majesty's Stationery Office printing works in Harrow and South London; the ages of the boys; the names of the towns from which they came; the number who passed the examination and their ages, and the proportion of these who were sons of civil servants?

Lieut.-Colonel Colville

There were 47 candidates at the examinations held in July and August, 1936, for apprenticeships in His Majesty's Stationery Office Printing Works at Harrow and Pocock Street. Their ages ranged between 14 and 16 years, and, with the exception of one boy who came from Luton, the whole of the candidates resided in Greater London. As a result of these examinations 11 boys, aged between 14 and 16 years, were appointed to fill vacancies, and, so far as my information goes, only one successful candidate was the son of a civil servant.