§ Sir Smedley Crookeasked the Minister of Labour whether he is now in a position to make a statement regarding schemes of vocational training and employment for Service and civilian war casualties who are industrially handicapped by their disabilities?
§ Mr.BevinI would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 587W the 3rd April to the hon. Member for Central Southwark (Mr. Martin), to the effect that the facilities for vocational training provided by the Ministry's existing training schemes are open to all persons who are fit to undergo the training. It is expected also that substantial numbers of disabled persons who are not fit to undergo the ordinary course will be able to undergo a more graduated course, spread over a longer period, in one or other of the occupations for which training provision is already made. Further, training courses for disabled persons will also be provided as required in other trades suffering from a shortage of labour in which any additional source of manpower would directly assist the war effort.