§ Mr. Alan Clarkasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many apprentices are currently undergoing training at Devonport dockyard ; and what is the projected intake for the year 1980–81, 1981–82 and 1982–83.
§ Mr. SpeedThe number of apprentices at present undergoing training at Devon-port dockyard in 1,118 of whom 1,038 are craft apprentices and 80 are technician apprentices.
The intake for 1980 has not been finally settled but a target figure is being used for planning purposes which, although less than the 1978 and 1979 intake, is of a similar order to those of 1976 and 1977, approximately 260.
Entry numbers for 1981 and 1982 are not yet available. It is not the practice to decide these numbers so far in advance but to determine requirements for some six months before the entry date.
§ Mr. Alan Clarkasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total cost of training one apprentice at Devonport dockyard over the full period of his apprenticeship.
§ Mr. SpeedThe total cost of training an apprentice over the four years of his apprenticeship is of the order of £20,000, but this reduces to about £18,000 when allowance is made for the contribution by the older apprentices to production.