§ Sir P. Hannonasked the Minister of Labour if he will make a statement on the progress of the Government Vocational Training Scheme to assist men and women released from the Forces to find permanent employment; if he is satisfied that the scheme is receiving the support of employers and trade unions; and if reports on the results of the scheme will be published in the "Ministry of Labour Gazette."
§ Mr. IsaacsEvery effort is being made to enable the Government Vocational Training Scheme to meet the needs of demobilised men and women. There are already 17 Government Training Centres in operation and five others will start within a few weeks. In addition, steps are being taken to establish 33 new Centres, devoted almost entirely to training for the building industry, and a special Centre is being set up to give training for the cotton spinning industry. Apart from the facilities in Government Training Centres, arrangements have been made, in association with the Education Departments, to use to the full the resources available in Technical Colleges, and arrangements are also being made, wherever practicable, for training in employers' works.
The schemes of training in the various industries have been fully discussed and agreed with representatives of employers and workpeople. The fullest collaboration has been met with in these discussions, and I should like to pay a tribute to the full appreciation, which both sides have shown, of the problem of resettling ex-Service men and women in civil life. Reports on the results of the scheme will be published from time to time in the "Ministry of Labour Gazette."