§ Mr. P. Williamsasked the Minister of Labour whether he will give consideration to the granting of immediate financial assistance to those firms in the North-East willing to train young people, so that there is an adequate supply of skilled labour in the future.
§ Mr. GodberWhile the Government are tackling the problem of training in the Industrial Training Bill, it would not be appropriate to give special financial assistance to individual firms unless they were prepared, like I.C.I. Ltd., Billing-ham, to provide special courses designed to help unemployed young people. I am, however, assisting the North-East in this respect by providing training for both young people and adults at the Felling and Tursdale Training Centres and by giving financial assistance towards the promotion of Group Apprenticeship Schemes, while my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade can assist firms coming into the area with their training costs.