HC Deb 21 January 1971 vol 809 c327W
Mr. Judd

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the level of apprentice recruiting in each of the Royal Naval Dockyards and on its implications for the future of each of the yards.

Mr. Kirk

The recruitment of apprentices in each of H.M. Dockyards will continue at a level sufficient to maintain the craft labour force planned for the future.

At Rosyth, the level of recruitment has been abnormally high for the past few years to provide craftsmen for the nuclear submarine refits. This requirement has now been largely met and recruitment will return to normal.

However, there are likely to be changes in the balance of trades required to meet the future programme of work.