§ Sir A. BUTTasked the Minister of Health what steps he proposes to take to overcome the shortage in the available supplies of skilled labour for housing; and whether he can state the number of youths who entered the skilled branches of the housing trades as apprentices in 1924?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINMy predecessor set up a Committee of employers and operatives of the building industry to assist in this matter, and I have continued this Committee in office. This Committee have adopted, and are endeavouring to bring into operation, proposals for augmenting the number of skilled workers in the industry by means of a scheme of adult apprenticeship including the upgrading of builders' labourers. I will send my hon. Friend a copy of a pamphlet issued by this Committee which describes the steps they are taking. Statistics are not available as to the number of apprentices entering these trades in 1924.