§ Mr. CHARLES EDWARDSasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that great dissatisfaction exists among the trainees under the Ministry of Labour scheme at Cardiff owing to the inadequacy of the allowances paid to them and their dependants, the short period of training allocated to the respective courses of training, and the desire for direct representation on all committees concerned with their present and future welfare; and will he give favourable consideration to these complaints so as to remove the cause of discontent?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAAs a result of a recent visit to Cardiff, I am aware of the representations made by the trainees there. As regards the scale of allowances, I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the reply given on 26th October to a396W question by the hon. Member for Burslem. As regards the duration of training periods, in practically all cases the length of the course has been settled in consultation with National Committees fully representative of both the employers and employed of the trade concerned. I have, however, ordered a careful review of the whole of the courses. As regards the question of representation on committees concerned with the interests of the men, most of the institutions have welfare committees, exclusively composed of the trainees themselves. Further, ex-service men are invariably represented on Local Employment Committees, which are concerned, amongst other things, with the employment of trainees. Difficulty has been experienced in securing representation for trainees on Local Technical Advisory Committees. The view is held that, as these committees deal with functions of a purely technical character, the presence of the ex-service man could not add to the value and authority of the committees' decisions. There is, of course, a great deal to be said for this view. Nevertheless, I hope the National Committees will look at the matter afresh, and consider whether the representation sought should not be accorded.