§ Sir A. Wilsonasked the Minister of Labour what arrangements are made or contemplated by his Department in connection with the provision of vocational training for soldiers who have left or are about to leave the service?
§ Mr. E. BrownThe new training centre at Southampton is now available for receiving soldiers recommended by their commanding officers for a course of training on leaving the Colours. This centre will have accommodation for 400 men, though all the equipment is not at present installed. Similarly the new centre to be opened at Leeds in the autumn with accommodation for 550 will be reserved for men leaving the Colours. In addition, there are vacancies in the Ministry's other centres for a large number of men from the Army if room cannot be found for them at Southampton and Leeds, or if they prefer some other centre. It is contemplated that after next April my Department will take over the administration of the Army Vocational Training Centres at Hounslow and Chisledon, and utilise them for the training of ex-soldiers on lines similar to those at present adopted at those centres for the training of serving soldiers. It is estimated that in present industrial circumstances, the Ministry will be able to offer training to some 10,000 men leaving the Army in the course of a year.