§ Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Labour how many older redundant workers can be retrained in his Department's training schemes at the present time ; what consideration has been given to the need for more facilities as a long-term policy ; and what decisions have been taken in this respect.
§ Mr. Godber: Older redundant workers who are suitable for training are eligible for admission along with other suitable applicants to any of the 3,128 training places at Government training centres and for training under schemes sponsored by my Ministry at technical colleges, commercial colleges and certain employers' establishments. Under the present programme the training places in Government training centres are being increased to about 271W 5,700. The position is kept under continuous review so that further adjustments may be made if these are justified.
§ Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Labour what is the capacity of his Department's training schemes for training young people ; how the present facilities compare with the provisions available in 1951 ; and in what way it is planned to increase the places in the near future.
§ Mr. Godber: There are 552 places for first year apprentice training in Government training centres which should be increased to 852 by the end of the year. There were none in 1951.
§ Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Labour how many people have been assisted under the Resettlement Transfer Scheme since 1st January, 1959, giving details of the various ways in which help has been given and the total cost to his Department ; and in how many cases lodging allowance has been paid.
§ Mr. Godber: During the period 1959 to 1963, 9,574 workers with dependants received lodging allowances under the Resettlement Transfer Scheme. In addition, a small number of men without dependants received free fares only under the Scheme though precise figures are not available.
The principal facilities provided were :
- (1) Free fares.
- (2) Lodging allowances.
- (3) Assisted fares for visits home.
- (4) Assistance towards removal expenses.
- (5) A contribution towards the fees involved in buying and/or selling a house.
The total cost of the Scheme over this period was about £534,000.
§ Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Labour how many persons have been assisted under the Temporary Transfer Scheme since 1st January, 1959, up to the latest convenient date, giving separately the figures for lodging allowances and for free passes, and giving the total cost to his Department.
272W
§ Mr. Godber: During the period 1959 to September, 1962, when the Temporary Transfer Scheme was wound up on the extension of the Resettlement Transfer Scheme to apply to the whole country, 1,732 persons received lodging allowances under the scheme. There are no separate figures available of the number who received free fares. The estimated cost of the scheme during the period was about £66,000.