HC Deb 25 July 1940 vol 363 cc995-6W
Mr. Gledhill

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the policy of his Department robs industry of highly-skilled workers, thereby losing production, in order to train unskilled people who may possibly be used for dilution at a considerably later date; and will he reconsider this policy?

Mr. Bevin

I assume that my hon. Friend's Question relates to the engage- ment of skilled tradesmen as instructors in the Government Training Centres. These centres are contributing in a vital manner towards the supply of engineering personnel for munitions production. At the present time men are being trained in these centres at the rate of 50,000 per annum, and this figure is being increased as rapidly as possible to 100,000. For this purpose I must have a greatly increased number of competent instructors. Every effort is being made to obtain these instructors with a minimum of interference with munitions production, but it is of paramount importance that I should continue to take steps to secure their services quickly. Each additional instructor will add scores to our engineering personnel.