HC Deb 19 March 1946 vol 420 cc309-10W
5. Mr. D. J. Williams

asked the Minister of Labour how many men released from the Services are awaiting places at Ministry of Labour training centres; how many of these are in Wales; and what steps are being taken to provide additional training facilities for these men.

Mr. Isaacs

On 9th March, 14,623 ex-Service men were awaiting allocation to training classes and of this number 1,215 were in Wales. Four training centres are now open in Wales at Cardiff, Swansea, Oakdale (Mon.) and Treforest, and a fifth will shortly open at Swansea. These five centres will provide accommodation for 1,856 trainees. The question of additional centres in Wales is now being considered.

14. Mr. Mainwaring

asked the Minister of Labour if he will enumerate the list of training establishments operated by his Department in Wales; where they are situated; the numbers accommodated; and the nature of the craft they are being trained for.

Mr. Isaacs

Training centres at present open in Wales with their capacity are Cardiff 592, Oakdale 212, Swansea 808, and Treforest 244. Provision has been made for craft training in bricklaying, carpentry, house painting and decorating, plastering, plumbing, slating and tiling, wood machining, boot and shoe repairing, cabinet making, watch and clock repairing and draughtsmanship; also motor mechanics for disabled men only. Training courses have also been sponsored by my Department at Cardiff Technical College in baking, 16 places and commercial subjects, 24 places.

25. Mr. Percy Wells

asked the Minister of Labour if he will favourably consider extending the working day at all Government training centres under his control by half an hour from Monday to Friday in the interest of economy and in order that trainees might enjoy the advantage of a long week end.

Mr. Isaacs

It is in the interests of effective training that working conditions in a Government training centre should approximate as far as practicable to those in outside industry; for this reason I do not regard the introduction of a five-day week in Government training centres as desirable at the present time. But conditions of work in the training centres are kept continually under review, and I will certainly bear this suggestion in mind.