§ Sir R. CLOUGHasked the Minister of Labour if he can state the present attitude of the woodworkers and of the cabinetmakers towards disabled ex-service men anxious to enter their respective trades on favourable terms of apprenticeship; and what action, if any, he is taking to effect this natural and desirable absorption of men whose means of livelihood is necessarily very restricted?
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§ Dr. MACNAMARAMy hon. Friend, no doubt, refers to the admission of disabled ex-service men under the Industrial Training Scheme. Both in cabinet-making and in carpentry and joinery the number of admissions to training has been considerably restricted for some months on account of the state of trade and the doubt felt by local Technical Advisory Committees as to the prospects of employment. There is no ground for complaint of the attitude of the National Amalgamated Furnishing Trades' Federation as to the training of disabled men as cabinet-makers. I am glad to say that within the last few weeks the Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers have agreed to the admission of additional men to training.