§ Major Wyattasked the Under-Secretary of State for India what arrangements exist for the technical training of Indians in industry in this country; and how many Indians have been receiving such training during each of the last six months.
§ Mr. IsaacsI have been asked to reply. My Department, at the request of and with full co-operation from the Government of India and the Office of the High Commissioner, operates two schemes for the technical training of Indians in British industry. Under the first scheme young Indian mechanics come to this country in batches of 50 to 75 for a period of eight months training. The thirteenth batch have recently completed their training and the fourteenth batch is expected shortly. The second scheme, recently introduced, provides for the training of Indian high-grade technicians who are expected to occupy responsible managerial and technical posts on return to India. So far training under the higher scheme has been arranged for 55 trainees of whom 20 have already commenced their training. I should like to take this opportunity of expressing my thanks to British industry for the valuable assistance and co-operation which it has given in operating these two training schemes. In addition to these schemes there are Government of India Technical Scholarships tenable in this country and independent arrangements are frequently made—either directly or through the Office of the High Commissioner for India —between organisations and business interests in India and similar organisations and interests in this country.