§ Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost over four years of training a Royal Air Force apprentice.
§ Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will reconsider the decision not to offer employment to 28 apprentices at Royal Air Force Sealand, Clwyd; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what is his policy with regard to the employment of Royal Air Force trained apprentices; whether, and to what extent, there has been any change in this policy; and if he will make a statement;
(3) how many Royal Air Force apprentices who have successfully completed courses have not been offered posts at the establishments at which they trained; and whether such action is contrary to usual practice;
(4) why 28 apprentices who would normally have been offered work at the base have been told that their services will not be required at Royal Air Force Sealand, Clwyd; and whether this is in accordance with Her Majesty's Government's policies to deal with unemployment in North-East Wales following steel closures there.
§ Mr. PattieI assume that the hon. Member is referring to MOD civilian apprentices. The net cost of training such an apprentice over four years is £21,000 after due allowance is made for his contribution to production over the period. It is the MOD's policy that wherever424W made from Defence Votes to voluntary bodies in the financial year 1979–80, and the estimate at September 1979 prices of payments to be made to those bodies in 1980–81:
suitable vacancies exist they should be offered to apprentices satisfactorily completing their apprenticeship. It is relatively uncommon for the Department to be unable to offer further employment in such cases. I expect that all of the 28 apprentices referred to by the hon. Member will shortly be offered suitable employment at RAF Sealand.