§ Mr. George Hallasked the Minister of Labour whether he will give the number of trainees now being trained at the Ministry of Labour training centres; the number of places set aside for ex-soldiers, also the number of vacancies for trainees at the present time; and what steps are being taken to use these centres to full capacity?
§ Mr. E. BrownThe number of men in training at all the Ministry of Labour and National Service centres on 8th February, 1940, was 7,959. The pre-war scheme for the vocational training of serving soldiers about to leave the Army is in suspense owing to the war. The number of training places at present equipped but not filled is 2,332. A number of additional training places is being equipped and will soon be available. Intensive efforts to fill the vacancies are being made by means of broadcast and Press publicity, adaptation of the conditions of eligibility, and certain improvements of the financial aspects of the scheme, especially for married men. The House will be glad to know that the number of applicants accepted last week was an "all time" record.