HC Deb 10 November 1921 vol 148 cc639-40W
Mr. WIGNALL

asked the Minister of Labour whether a large number of ex-service men in the Cardiff area are being discharged from the Government instructional factories without the faintest hope of procuring situations as improvers for the purpose of finishing their training; whether any allowance is made to trainees to enable them to procure the necessary tools for their particular trade on leaving the training centre; and whether, in view of the large amount of unemployment already existing in the country, he will consider the suspension of further discharges and so enable these men to become more efficient and competent to obtain employment in their various trades before being discharged?

Dr. MACNAMARA

Since 1st November no man has been discharged from the Cardiff instructional factory. About 60 men discharged before that date still require improverships. As the special arrangements now in operation for finding improverships are producing these at the rate of 15 per week, I hope these men will soon be placed. Full tool kits are supplied immediately to all trainees who have jobs, orbonâ fide promises of jobs, in the trade in which they have been trained. During the winter months no men who require improverships with maintenance will be discharged unless they have improverships to go to, or have completed the full period upon State maintenance.