§ Captain DOUGLAS HALLasked the Ministry of Labour if negotiations regarding the Memorandum explaining the scheme for interrupted apprenticeships for the gold, silver, horological, and allied trades, which was sent to the Joint Industrial Council on 31st December, 1918, and was considered by this council on 3rd May, 1919, is now completed; and if the scheme for this industry will be submitted to the Department for approval before Parliament rises?
§ Mr. WARDLEThe Department has, as stated in the reply of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour on the 21st July,2318W been in close touch with the National Joint Industrial Council for the Gold, Silver, Horological and Allied Trades, with regard to the preparation of a scheme for State assistance in respect of interrupted apprenticeship for these trades, but have now been informed that, owing to difficulties which have arisen within the Joint Industrial Council, the council are not in a position to deal with the question at the present time. As the matter is one of urgency, the Department have, therefore, convened an ad hoc conference of representatives of associations of employers and of workpeople in the industry, with a view to the preparation of a scheme. The conference is to meet on Wednesday, the 6th August, and it is hoped that the scheme will be completed at this meeting.