§ Sir A. SPROTasked the Secretary for Scotland whether, in view of the shortage of bricklayers, joiners, and other artificers required for housing schemes in Scotland, he will consider the advisability of forming an organisation for instructing unemployed ex-service men in those trades so as to increase the number of workers available for the housing schemes?
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§ Dr. MACNAMARAI have been asked to reply. Considerable facilities have already been provided for the training of disabled ex-service men in the various branches of the building trade, on lines agreed both by employers and employed, and these are being largely increased. As arranged at present, these facilities are restricted to disabled men. As regards fit ex-service men, I would in the first place refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which I gave on 2nd July to the hon. and gallant Member for Bournemouth (Lieut.-Colonel Croft), a copy of which I am sending him. This refers only to the younger men who may have been prevented from learning a trade by the outbreak of war. The wider aspect of the question he raises is now the subject of consideration.