§ Sir F. FLANNERYasked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the case of Alfred C. Drake, No. 213589, Air Service, Air Mechanic, Second Class, of Tollesbury, Essex, who enlisted, during the War, at 19 years of age. May, 1916, leaving his apprenticeship as shipwright unfinished, who served three years in the Royal Naval Air Service, and who, after demobilisation 31st January, 1919, applied to the Ministry of Labour for training to complete his full trade union qualifications under the Apprentices Training Department, 64, Queen's Gardens, Paddington, on 7th March, 1921, whether the grounds of refusal by that department can be stated; 637W and whether the Ministry of Labour will reconsider the refusal so as to prevent A. C. Drake from being thrown on the out-of-work dole in consequence of his disqualification arising from the incomplete apprenticeship interrupted by serving his country?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAMr. Drake was, I am informed, demobilised in December, 1918, but the first communication to the Ministry of Labour in respect of him in connection with the Scheme for Interrupted Apprenticeships was made on 7th March, 1921, when the scheme had then been in operation for over two years. The last date of application under the scheme was 30th September, 1920, and this fact was fully advertised. In the circumstances, I am afraid Mr. Drake's application cannot be accepted.