§ Mr. WALKERasked the First Commissioner of Works whether in view of the unemployment in the building trade, how long it will be before he can com-
1382Wfrom those who are usually engaged in it; and that boot repairers normally employed are now being thrown out of employment as a result?
§ Miss BONDFIELDSimple boot-repairing may be included as one of the items of practical instruction at centres for unemployed juveniles administered by local education authorities on behalf of my Department. Trainees at transfer instructional centres are given facilities for repairing their own boots and a limited amount of elementary instruction to enable them to do so. No instruction of this kind is given under the control of the Department beyond these two items, neither of which can properly be described as courses of training in boot repairing. The position was explained to a deputation from the Boot and Shoe Repairing Trade Board on 25th March last.