§ Major PRESCOTTasked the Minister of Labour whether in Tottenham there 1526W are over 1,000 young men who have given their all to the State, and are now in young manhood, left with the prospect of earning their livelihood as labourers, owing to lack of training establishments; and if he will speed up the necessary machinery so as to give these young demobilised soldiers a chance to become craftsmen, in view of the already overstaffed labourers' occupation?
§ Sir R. HORNEI am aware of the circumstances referred to in the first part of the hon. and gallant Member's question. Until, however, adequate arrangements can be made to meet fully the prior claims of disabled men for training in the skilled trades, I am afraid that it will be impossible to provide training facilities for the able-bodied. Moreover, there is, as yet, no agreement on the part of the trade unions concerned to the admission of fit able-bodied men with a pre-war occupation, to the ranks of the skilled trades, although it is hoped to come to an understanding with the Unions with regard to lads who joined the Army under the normal age for commencing apprenticeship.